WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that, beginning today, a three-day industrial Energy Saving Assessment is taking place beginning today at the Bekaert Steel Wire Corporation facility in Dyersburg, Tennessee, 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 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 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.”

 

Bekaert Corporation's Dyersburg Facility manufactures steel-wire products, primarily wire used within automobile tires to make the steel belt that gives tires strength and durability.  Bekaert has been doing business in Dyersburg since 1988.

 

DOE’s Energy Saving Teams that visit large federal facilities and the top 200 energy-intensive manufacturing facilities in the United States are part of the national “Easy Ways to Save Energy” campaign launched by Secretary Bodman on October 3, 2005, in Washington, D.C. 

 

The first nine Energy Saving Assessments have identified, in aggregate, $28 million per year in energy cost savings and will reduce natural gas consumption by more than 3 trillion Btu per year, equivalent to the natural gas consumed by more than 40,000 typical U.S. homes.

           

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.