Energy Efficiency Improvement: Exceeding the Historical Rate at the Plant Level with New Concepts

Energy efficiency programs provide short-term economical benefits and long-term risk mitigation of fossil-fuel supply instability and global warming. This paper discusses possible energy efficiency goals for risk mitigation by reviewing:

1. 1
   Historical rates of energy efficiency improvement
2. 2
   Program-induced rates of energy efficiency improvement
3. 3
   Estimated improvement rates needed to mitigate long-term risks

Additionally, this paper will review the concepts and methods useful in meeting the energy efficiency improvement rates required to mitigate long-term risks. Concepts reviewed include theoretical minimum energy use and energy bandwidths, while methods presented include Lean Energy and Whole-System Inside-Out methodologies.