Programs to reduce industrial pollution have evolved from prescriptive, measure-based regulations that focus on the "tail pipe," to more flexible programs that focus on reducing pollution by minimizing waste and redesigning processes. The success and cost effectiveness of this approach have been proven. ACEEE's analysis supports the integrated assessment approach (Elliott, Laitner, and Pye 1997). Conventional measure-based, energy efficiency assessments focus on increasing the efficiency of existing processes, while P2 assessments focus on restructuring processes to eliminate waste and more efficiently use raw materials. In many cases, the portion of the product that is wasted has required significant energy to produce. This is particularly true if the waste occurs late in the production process. If waste is reduced, the energy and other resources required to produce the waste product can be redirected to produce salable product, and the energy and other costs associated with waste disposal can be avoided. P2 programs also have been noted for reducing production cost and improving product quality. Examples of programs that take the integrated approach to manufacturing efficiency follow.

EPRI's (Electric Power Research Institute)Partnership for Industrial Competitiveness (EPIC) program focuses on maximizing energy efficiency, pollution prevention and industrial competitiveness through integrated industrial process assessments, looking at the entire facility, rather than focusing on specific technology applications. The program reports that industries value safety first followed by environmental compliance and then productivity. EPRI sees EPIC as a path for moving utility programs from prescriptive, broad-based programs targeted at the entire industrial class, to targeted programs that develop and demonstrate technologies and techniques that enhance customer competitiveness (see example in box).

In 1994, the Industrial Assessment Centers expanded from the Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center program (started by DOE in the 1970s) by adding a waste minimization audit component to the energy audits. IACs are managed by universities, sponsored by DOE Office of Industrial Technology, and operate at 30 accredited engineering schools across the country. Guided by experienced faculty, engineering student teams conduct free audits for small- to medium-sized industrial companies in 43 states. Assessment teams recommend specific actions to optimize energy efficiency, waste minimization and productivity improvements, and provide cost estimates, potential savings, and payback time (see box for IAC example). In addition to free assessments, the IAC web site (www.oit.doe.gov/Access/iac) provides a database with results of over 6,000 energy audits and around 1,000 industrial assessments, as well as a do-it-yourself assessment workbook, training manual, and productivity manual (Medina et al. 1997).

In addition to these two programs, there are hundreds of manufacturing assistance programs that include an E2/P2 component. For example, the following resources exist throughout the country:

• The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute for Standards Technology (NIST) sponsors more than 80 manufacturing assistance centers throughout the country through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. These centers offer cost-shared services to local manufacturers in various technical and technology transfer areas (Alliance to Save Energy 1998).
  
• The Association of Research and Technology Transfer Institutions (ASERTTI) has 19 members in 16 states and the Virgin Islands. These institutions offer programs that provide technical assistance to local manufacturers to promote economic development, environmental protection, and enhanced productivity. The New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), for example, offers several programs, including Flextech and Industry & Applications, geared toward the integrated approach (Pye and Nadel 1997).
  
• Approximately 30 state-sponsored technology programs have regional centers that help industry adopt new technologies (e.g., Florida Manufacturing Technology Center, Ohio Edison Technology Center, and Ben Franklin Technology Center in Pennsylvania) (Alliance to Save Energy 1998).
  
• Other such programs are sponsored by EPA, National Science Foundation, and Small Business Administration (Alliance to Save Energy 1998).
  

National Inventory of Manufacturing Assistance Programs, including more than 300 manufacturing assistance programs and centers (by state), has been prepared by the Alliance to Save Energy (1998) and will be available on the web (www.ase.org/NIMAP2) in mid-1998.

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