The glass industry primarily uses energy to supply heat
to the glass melting furnaces in which the raw materials are melted and refined, with
downstream processing used to ultimately form and finish glass. According to the most
recent Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS), the U.S. glass industry consumed
249 trillion Btu of energy in 1994, excluding energy used in manufacturing products from
purchased glass. [MECS 1994] Energy purchases cost the industry
$1.4 billion in 1997, about 5% of the value of shipments that year. Excluding the much
less energy-intensive products of purchased glass segment, energy purchases accounted for
about 7% of shipments. [DOC 1997]
Source: MECS 1991, 1994
* Total excludes withheld data
Note: Years prior to 1994 do not include adjustments for energy shipped offsite. Does not
include losses incurred during the distribution, generation, and transmission of
electricity.
Natural gas accounts for the majority of industry energy use
Process heating accounts for two-thirds of industry energy use
Glass container manufacturing consumes the most energy
Natural gas and electricity dominate energy expenditures
Energy intensity measures the energy consumed per dollar of
product shipped
