DOE says 100 companies, groups plan to drop energy use 20% by 2020
According to Andre de Fontaine of USDOE’s advanced manufacturing office, the DOE now has 110 U.S. companies and other organizations committed to a 20% cut in energy use by 2020. The pledges equal about 5% of the total “energy footprint” of the U.S. manufacturing sector.
To bolster U.S. energy efficiency through voluntary means, agency efforts range from its Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) to the Better Buildings, Better Plants (BBBP) initiative launched in 2011. The BBBP initiative calls for commercial and industrial buildings to increase energy efficiency 20% by 2020. A higher-tier “challenge” program requires firms to provide data to verify efficiency gains, and to make a commitment to showcase energy-saving projects.