Irish gas and electricity supplier Vayu Energy has announced the rollout of a national energy efficiency programme for businesses, targeting total energy savings of 350 GWh by the end of 2020 and a reduction of 242,000 tonnes in CO2 − the equivalent of taking 50,000 cars off the road.
The launch follows the successful completion of an initial 12-month pilot phase in partnership with eight companies throughout the country, each of which achieved savings in energy consumption of 20-25% on a project-by-project basis. Companies from a wide range of sectors were involved in the initial phase, including SIAC Construction, Allianz, Rottapharm Madaus and UPC.
Vayu estimates that the majority of Irish businesses can achieve initial energy reductions of up to 20% across their operations through a range of straightforward measures that can have a substantial impact on overall energy costs while helping to limit the environmental impact of their operations.
As part of the programme, a dedicated Vayu energy specialist works with each business to carry out a comprehensive energy audit, identifying all areas for improvement in energy efficiency, quantifying potential savings and agreeing targeted projects to maximise savings. Throughout the process, energy consumption is monitored and reductions are measured and reported on an ongoing basis.
Liam Faulkner, Chief Operating Officer, Vayu Energy says: “Enormous potential exists for Irish businesses to improve their energy performance, with significant knock-on benefits for operating costs and environmental sustainability. Energy efficiency is an area that is all too frequently overlooked by businesses, with many failing to fully appreciate the level of savings that can be achieved by implementing even the simplest of measures.”
“Energy costs are a concern for many companies and the business case for better energy management should be clear from the outset for most of them,” says Mr Faulkner. “Key to this is having a full understanding of where and how energy is being consumed across the organisation and implementing a targeted programme of measures to improve efficiency. As we’ve demonstrated through our pilot programme, it’s a win-win for businesses both in terms of their bottom line and environmental footprint.”