April 25, 2006
PR Newswire
28% improvement in energy intensity achieved since 1990 marks 2nd consecutive year of gains;
17% reduction in greenhouse gases means industry has surpassed Kyoto target by 240%
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that for the second consecutive year in a row, the United States steel industry has achieved a new milestone in energy efficiency by reducing its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by approximately 13.2 percent since 2002 (based on latest available data compiled through 2004), thus expanding its reduction in energy intensity to 28 percent since 1990. Because of the close relationship between energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the industry’s aggregate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per ton of steel shipped were reduced by 17 percent. Compared to the Kyoto Protocol’s call for an average 7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2012, this means the American steel industry has already surpassed the Kyoto target by more than 240 percent.
“This improvement in energy efficiency is evidence of the steel industry’s longstanding commitment to sustainability,” Steve Rowlan, chairman, AISI Committee on Environment, general manager, environmental affairs, Nucor Corporation, Inc., said during an AISI Environmental Briefing held on Capitol Hill. “As part of our industry’s Climate VISION agreement with the Department of Energy, we set a goal to improve energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by 10 percent by 2012 compared to the 2002 baseline. The 2004 data show we have surpassed that target and are breaking new ground in terms of our performance.”
The American steel industry has been a leader in reducing energy intensity in the steel manufacturing process and correspondingly reducing greenhouse gas emissions through recycling and through a combination of restructuring, technological advancements and product
and process improvements. Also contributing to increased energy efficiency have been greater capacity utilization levels, as well as a higher percentage of total steel production by electric arc furnace steelmakers (EAF).
“Exemplifying our commitment to a sustainable future is the fact that since 1975, the industry has invested over $60 billion in new technologies to improve energy efficiency and productivity,” Rowlan noted. “The steel industry has also played a leading role in the EPA Sector Strategies Initiative, which complements our continuous environmental improvement efforts. We are willing, in this regard, to be transparent on our efforts, failures and accomplishments. The EPA Performance Report provides a publicly-available report card on our ongoing efforts.”
Rowlan also highlighted the steel industry’s involvement in the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate. America’s steel industry is one of only eight sectors working with China, India, South Korea, Japan and Australia to improve the environment through this collaborative commitment to environmental stewardship.
He also said that steel’s environmental report card must include recognition of the environmental benefits the material brings in product applications, “from the cars we drive to the office buildings we work in to the appliances we use every day at home.” In recognition of these life-cycle benefits, AISI and its international steel partners recently were recently honored with the Star of Energy Efficiency Award for their work on a consortium to advance vehicle energy efficiency. The award was presented by the U.S.-based Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) to honor work on the ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC) project which has achieved tremendous advances in fuel economy. These new steel technologies could translate into reducing total primary energy consumption over the vehicle life cycle by 50 percent.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 33 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org.