The third annual edie Energy Management report, released today finds that the majority (82%) of large businesses affected by the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)* are aware of the upcoming legislation, but only 39% have started work on engaging a lead assessor to carry out their ESOS assessment.
It also found that employee engagement, behaviour change and technology upgrades are the key areas that businesses are focusing on, whilst funding is the biggest barrier to increasing energy efficiency.
The full edie report, entitled Energy management: procurement, planning and purchasing priorities 2015/16 will be officially launched at Sustainability Live on April 21 and the findings presented in the Energy Efficiency Theatre by edie editor Luke Nicholls (Energy Efficiency Theatre One, Tuesday 21 April, 10.30am).
Right track
Two thirds (66%) of respondents to the annual edie energy management survey said that an energy-efficient lighting system is their number one focus this year. Whilst 65% are pushing employee engagement initiatives and 60% are focusing on building/energy management systems – a significant increase from 47% in last year’s survey.
When asked to rate how committed their organisation is to achieving energy management goals on a scale of one to five, almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents rated their organisations as a four or a five. The proportion that thought their organisation was ‘very committed’ increased from 35% in 2014/15 to 39% in this year’s survey.
But there are a number of barriers which are stifling businesses in their attempts to initiate energy-saving programmes. The majority of respondents (62%) consider funding to be the greatest barrier. Meanwhile, 32% claimed that ‘selecting and implementing the right technology/programmes’ was the biggest barrier – a significant increase from the 24% of respondents that said this last year.
Sophisticated audience
Commenting on the report’s findings, Sarah Beacock, skills and capability director at the Energy Institute – an edie knowledge partner which supported the development of the survey – said: “It is encouraging to see that more organisations see themselves as being more committed to energy efficiency than ever. The edie survey tends to target those who are already well on the road of their energy efficiency journey and their commitment is obviously growing as their results and success increase.
“The increasing sophistication of techniques used by energy managers responding to this survey can also be seen through their organisations’ current focus of activity. In particular, by making more effective use of data and changing and developing their processes they can effectively build on the savings already seen through replacing technology and leading behavioural change.
“The high awareness of ESOS again demonstrates the sophistication of this survey audience and it is encouraging to see how many have given thought to their needs in this respect.”
‘Energy management: procurement, planning and purchasing priorities 2015/16’ will be officially launched at edie’s Sustainability Live event later this month. A seminar on day one (21 April) of the event in the Energy Efficiency Theatre One, led by edie editor Luke Nicholls, will explore the report’s findings in greater detail, with a closer look at the key challenges, business imperatives and opportunities for energy managers for the coming year.