WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that a three-day industrial Energy Saving Assessment (ESA) begins today at the Foremost Farms USA facility in Richland Center, Wisconsin, as part of the comprehensive national energy efficiency effort being undertaken by the Bush administration.  Through no-cost assessments, DOE is working with major manufacturing facilities to identify energy- and money-saving opportunities 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 leading 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.”

 

Foremost Farms USA, headquartered in Baraboo, WI, operates 20 manufacturing facilities and two milk transfer stations for its 3,500 dairy-farmer members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.  The cooperative employs 1,500 people.  Foremost Farms USA manufactures and markets many varieties of American and Italian-style cheeses, butter, ingredients from whey, packaged fluid milk, ice cream mix, and chilled, ready-to-serve juices for its retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.

 

DOE’s Energy Saving Teams have completed visits to 29 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 21 ESAs have identified, in aggregate, more than $64 million per year in potential energy cost savings and could reduce natural gas consumption by nearly 8 trillion Btu per year, equivalent to the natural gas consumed by more than 100,000  homes annually.

                                                     

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, visit  http://www.energysavers.gov/ or call DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Hotline at 1-877-337-3463.