Barriers to energy efficiency investments and energy management in the industrial sector

The industrial energy efficiency team at ACEEE has put together a brief synopsis of the Barriers to energy efficiency investments and energy management in the industrial sector [PDF]. With the current economic recession being the primary obstacle to industrial energy efficiency investments, ACEEE looks ahead to the American economy's recovery, but acknowledges that the current economic climate is the best time to make the necessary policy changes to encourage efficiency investments. The four greatest challenges that stymie such investments include:

1. The need for new technologies, products, and processes;
2. Access to industry-specific expertise, assessments, and training for workers;
3. Availability of a trained and capable workforce; and
4. Access to useful capital to make needed investments.

Several policy initiatives, which are discussed briefly in the paper, could help to address these limiting factors, including legislation currently on the table in the US Senate. In particular, components of the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 would help to address some of the fundamental obstacles to industrial energy efficiency.

It is ACEEE's hope that these provisions will be incorporated into a comprehensive energy/climate bill, one with more robust energy efficiency provisions across all economic sectors. (See Climate Bill Must Be Strengthened to Spur Investment in Energy Efficiency to Save Consumers $Billions, Create Millions of New Jobs, Support Robust Economy.)