95/05537 Increasing the implementation of energy-efficient technologies among U.S. manufacturers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the implementation of energy efficient technologies among manufacturing firms. The authors examine the factors responsible for the success or failure of the implementation process. Such factors may include, but are not limited to: the organization and culture of the firm, management practices, availability of capital, and the cost of implementation. To measure the relative importance of these factors, they review survey data on the implementation of energy efficient-technologies and the reasons for not implementing collected from participants in an industrial energy audit program conducted by Georgia Tech. After laying out a general theoretical framework for the adoption and implementation of new technologies, they discuss recent studies which investigated the barriers to energy saving technologies. The survey data is contrasted to the results obtained from energy audits given by the Georgia Institute of Technology Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center (EADC). Based on the barrier studies and survey results, major barriers will be made apparent and strategies that favor implementation of energy-efficient technologies can be formulated. While no specific policy recommendations appear to address organization barriers to energy conservation, proposals that address the knowledge and fiscal barriers could yield a major increase in themore » implementation of energy-efficient technology in the US manufacturing sector. The potential for the greatest gains in energy-efficiency, however, may rest with those approaches that address the reluctance of domestic manufacturers to innovate their production process.« less