The Value of Comparing an Energy Management Program with Those in Other Industries

Abstract

Lafarge North America, a large producer of cement and construc-
tion materials with an annual capacity of over 20 million tons, operates
19 cement manufacturing plants in Canada and the U.S, as well as five
grinding facilities. The company’s production represents over 35 percent
of Canadian and 12 percent of U.S. cement industry capacity. Cement
is sold primarily for the manufacturing of ready-mix concrete manu-
facturing and other concrete products. Lafarge’s significant construction
material activities include manufacture and sale of ready-mix concrete,
construction aggregates, other concrete products, and asphalt and road
constructions. The company has operations at more than 450 locations
and, aside from cement and ready-mix plants, includes quarry, sand
and gravel sites, asphalt plants, and concrete plants.
Energy management is an important part of the operation of La-
farge’s Cement Division. This article describes the current Lafarge energy
management program by focusing on its successes, challenges, sustain-
ability, organization, and people mobilization. It examines Lafarge’s goals
for energy management and the challenges in achieving them. Finally,
an analysis of the similarities of criteria for success in energy manage-
ment between Lafarge, 3M, and Corning is presented. The comparison
demonstrates the value of cross-industry comparisons and their ability to
improve energy management among diverse businesses