API member refiners have set a voluntary goal to improve energy efficiency by 10 percent between 2002 and 2012, and are making progress to meet it through such technologies as using heat from their operations to produce additional energy – which reduces energy use and resulting emissions. Other technologies and changes in practice being used to meet this goal include advanced process controls, refinery optimization, investments in new, more efficient refinery facilities, retirement of non-competitive facilities and higher refinery utilization.

Despite increasing challenges to improve energy efficiency – including more stringent product specifications and heavier, higher-sulfur crude feedstocks - API member companies have collectively made significant refinery energy efficiency improvements since the adoption of the 10 in 10 initiative in 2003.

In 2006, improvements in energy efficiency at API member refineries – compared to the technology used in 2002 – produced energy savings equivalent to taking 531,000 cars off the road, or savings equivalent to the electricity used by more than 963,000 homes.