WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that a three-day industrial Energy Saving Assessment will be undertaken beginning today at the Tembec facility in St. Francisville, Louisiana, as part of the comprehensive national energy efficiency effort undertaken by the Bush Administration.  Through no-cost assessments, DOE is working with major manufacturing facilities to identify opportunities to save energy and money, primarily by focusing on steam and process heating systems.

 

“President Bush has called on all Americans to be more energy efficient.  Private industry is joining the federal government in taking a lead role in this effort,” Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said.  “DOE’s Energy Saving Teams will play a key role in assessing and recommending energy efficiency strategies for some of the largest industrial facilities across the nation.”

 

Tembec USA produces pulp and paper products such as magazine paper and coffee filteres.  The St. Francisville mill produces approximately 1000 tons per day of paper products.

 

DOE’s Energy Saving Teams have completed visits to 28 large federal facilities and are in the process of visiting 200 of the most energy-intensive manufacturing facilities in the United States as part of the national “Easy Ways to Save Energy” campaign launched by Secretary Bodman on October 3, 2005. 

 

The first six Energy Saving Assessments that DOE has conducted of private-sector facilities have identified, in aggregate, $10 million per year in energy cost savings that on average, will reduce total plant natural gas consumption by 6.7 percent.

 

Companies interested in accessing DOE energy saving resources can get more details at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow/ and request brochures detailing “15 Tips to Help Your Plant Save Energy.” 

 

For tips on easy, inexpensive steps consumers can take to lower their energy bills this winter, please visit  http://www.energysavers.gov/ or call DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Hotline at 1-877-337-3463.