Corn Refining Focus

The ENERGY STAR Corn Refining Focus provides wet corn millers with opportunities to overcome barriers to energy efficiency in their businesses. This is accomplished by promoting strategic corporate energy management practices and resources that facilitate continuous improvement. EPA began the Corn Refining Focus in 2002 and participation is available to all manufacturers with corn refineries based in the U.S.

Preparing for a site tour at National Starch & Chemical Company

Industry-Specific Energy Management Tools & Resources

ENERGY STAR Corn Refining Energy Performance Indicator (EPI)

The EPI scores the energy efficiency of a single wet corn milling plant in the U.S., and compares it to that of the entire industry. Developed by EPA and supported by the analytical skill of Duke University in cooperation with the wet corn milling industry, the EPI uses basic inputs unique to a plant and provides a percentile ranking of the plant’s energy efficiency, comparing it to the industry’s average and “efficient” (defined as the 75th percentile) plants. This tool enables corporate and industry-wide benchmarking and facilitates periodic plant comparisons. Rating the energy efficiency of plants starts a process that will enable companies to reduce energy usage and set aggressive improvement goals.

Download the Wet Corn Milling Plant EPI (822KB)

Read about the Wet Corn Milling Plant EPI (1.11MB)

Opportunities for Improving Energy Efficiency in Corn Refining Operations

The energy guide for corn refining operations discusses energy efficiency practices and technologies for plant processes and utilities. Developed by EPA through the research skills of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in coordination with the industry, the guide describes existing opportunities for reducing energy use in corn refineries.

Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the Corn Wet Milling Industry (1.0MB)

Companies also can compare their energy management practices to the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management. The guidelines provide a framework for strategic energy management practices that achieve results. Based on the ENERGY STAR Guidelines, the EPA’s Energy Management Assessment Matrix is a quick and easy way to identify areas for improvement in a corporate energy management program. This tool’s simple format gives energy managers an overview of potential steps for enriching their corporate energy programs.

Annual Corn Refining Focus Meetings

Annually, the ENERGY STAR Corn Refining Focus provides energy directors with the opportunity to openly discuss challenges confronting their energy management programs. Designed with the industry, annual meetings include topics such as identifying and reducing energy uses in corn refining, options for improving efficiency, and company energy program highlights.

Touring a corn refinery at an annual meeting