Greenhouse Gas Programs, Energy Efficiency, and the Industrial Sector

The United States has made significant progress in reducing total energy use through energy efficiency improvements over the past decade, yet the United States still ranks as the highest absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in the world with 23.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita in 2006. The industrial sector (agriculture is excluded) is responsible for 28.7 percent of the GHG emissions in the U.S. However, the U.S. industrial sector has numerous economically viable opportunities to reduce energy use and GHG emissions. Energy efficiency, including new clean technologies, plays a significant role in increasing productivity and reducing energy intensity, and thus emissions. Increasing energy efficiency in industrial processes is central to addressing climate change issues in the industrial sector. This paper describes the energy-efficiency programs, methodologies, and technologies that can economically lead to significant GHG reductions in the industrial sector. The paper also discusses the impacts of climate change policies and programs to the application of advanced low-carbon industrial technologies