Energy benchmarking for the glass industry

Benchmarking provides a quantitative comparison between industry average and best practices relative to energy efficiency, productivity, waste reduction and environmental cost-effectiveness. The most recent comprehensive study of the glass industry`s energy use practices was conducted in the mid 1980s. In 1996, the US Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technology (DOE/OIT) initiated a benchmarking project for the glass industry. Although concerns with energy pricing and availability have diminished since the 1980s, significant reasons remain for maintaining effective energy management in the glass industry. Improving energy efficiency and reducing pollution can have a tremendous impact on productivity and competitiveness. One of the challenges faced by the glass industry in adopting more-efficient and environmentally sound technology is the lack of information available on industry average and best practices relative to energy efficiency, productivity and environmental issues.