The US Energy Information Administration has announced that the total energy consumption in the country’s manufacturing sector declined by 17% during 2002 to 2010.
Manufacturing gross output was down just 3% during the same period indicating a decline in energy consumption vis-à-vis per unit of gross manufacturing output.
"The significant decline in energy intensity reflects both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix. Consumption of every fuel used for manufacturing declined over this period," said the agency in a statement.
Energy for manufacturing can be consumed in two ways, including fuel or feedstock.
US manufacturing has used about 14 quadrillion British thermal units of energy as a fuel in 2010, representing a 13% decline since 2012.
Feedstock energy employed by the sector contributed to 6% of all energy consumed in the country.
The US manufacturing sector includes several energy-intensive industries such as petroleum refining, chemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, paper, wood products, and food, as well as less energy-intensive industries such as textiles, leather, apparel, furniture, machinery, and electrical equipment.