Steam heated polyester production process

Processes for making polyesters in a polyester production facility are disclosed, that include the steps of forming a reaction medium comprising at least one monomer that includes terephthalic acid (TPA) and/or an ester derivative of TPA; subjecting at least a portion of the reaction medium to one or more chemical reactions in the polymer production facility to thereby produce the polyester; and heating the reaction medium at one or more locations in the polyester production facility, wherein at least 50 percent of the total energy input employed for the heating of the reaction medium is provided by indirect heat exchange between the reaction medium and steam.