Energy efficient motors, new technologies, and best practices can reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent, according to the U.S. DOE. Manufacturers should evaluate motor selection based on life-cycle costs, rather than initial price. NEMA Premium® efficient motors and system efficiency upgrades help maximize potential gains.

3 Phase Energy Systems, an offshoot of Laser Cutting Northwest, has developed a way to generate electricity from the exhaust of dust collectors.

The key factors to consider in evaluating whether solar is right for your plant include your electrical load and current rate, your roof’s size and load capacity, the geographic location of your plant(s) and corresponding insolation (amount of solar radiation), and state government, local utility, and local community regulations and incentives.

Ever heard the expression, "When life gives you lemons, turn them into lemonade?" Several enterprising manufacturers have found ways to turn waste into wastinade: Orchid Intl. saves $70,000 annually with its wastewater evaporation system; GM operates 54 landfill-free plants globally; metal scrap sales generated $1 billion revenue in 2008, and six of its U.S. plants saved $5 million in electricity costs from landfill gas usage; Brakebush Brothers uses an oil-recovery system to remove oil from its waste, which it then sells to a biofuel producer.

Since its founding in 1978 in West Fargo, N.D., DMI Industries has survived turbulent economic fluctuations—and grown—by rolling with the changes. Literally. The company built sugar beet processing and handling equipment using plate rolling and other equipment. The astute manufacturer then redirected its operations to respond to the booming wind energy sector and has become a premier wind tower manufacturer in North America.

An extension of the green tax credit for manufacturers is likely to be part of any jobs bill. A top DOE official threw cold water on a proposal to create a new revolving loan fund for small and medium-sized manufacturers, saying that it is duplicative. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) refused to remove a paperwork roadblock for one solar services co. that complicates sales of roof top solar systems, but may later amend the regulation for all.