DuPont Cuts Energy Consumption 8%- For Starters

Abstract

DuPont's Corporate Energy Leadership Team (CELT) faced a
difficult challenge at its inception in 1991-reducing the industry
giant's $900 million annual domestic en ergy bill. Seven later ,
DuPont 's annual energy costs are down to $800 million, and energy
consumption has shrunk by more than 8%. And the team is on track
toward future reduction goals.
Headed by Daniel J . Logan, Conoco Power's Southern Energy
Asset Team director , CELT is a network of about 30 employees from
all ar eas of DuPont who volunteer their knowledge, skills and time
toward attainment of energy excellence. Supported by upp er manage-
ment , the group uses persuasion rather than mandates to further its
objectives .
Key to persuading the company was the team 's 1992 Jump
Start commitment to reduce out-of-pocket energy expenditures im-
mediately . "We said, 'Over a four-month peri od, we're going to save
$6 million out-of-pock et on energy costs.' That was our goal ," Logan
sa ys . "We actually ended up doubling that . We saved over $12 mil-
lion ."
The gr eatest savings- 26% of the total- came from shutting
down spare or unne eded equipment . Equipm ent tune-ups to improve
performance and renegotiation of fuel contracts also lowered energy
cost s.