Curing of bright leaf tobacco is a controlled drying process. Results from 12 curing experiments using a range of exchanged air control strategies showed that, on average, 48% of moisture was removed during leaf coloring phase (days 1-3) 42% during leaf drying (days 4-5), and 10% during stem drying. Heat energy for typical 6-day cure was consumed as follows : 29% days 1-3, 53% days 4-5, and 18% day 6. A general guideline for venting (air changes/h based on curing compartment volume) was developed : 20-25 day 1, 40 day 2, 50 day 3, 60-65 day 4, 30-40 day 5, and 20 day 6. Energy released by the tobacco was 11% of total energy required, or approximately the energy required to heat and maintain the temperature of the structure. Resultant solids loss ranged from 5.3 to 29.6% of initial solids. On a per unit mass basis it took more than twice as much energy to cure the first priming leaves as required for last priming leaves. Total energy (heat + electric) for 5-day cures was 9% less than 6-day cures. It takes little energy to maintain the leaf coloring environment, consequently reducing this phase did not yield a proportional energy savings.