Brussels: European Sustainable Energy Week
Surveys show that while SMEs are willing to commit to increasing energy efficiency, but lack the resources.
Brussels' currently hosts European Sustainable Energy Week; recently a troubling statistic emerged. Surveys show that SMEs are willing to commit to increasing energy efficiency, but lack the resources and knowledge to achieve cost and energy saving goals. The poll released in Brussels revealed that while 80% of businesses surveyed wish to increase their energy efficiency to reduce their bills and 75% are committed to how energy reduction will mitigate climate change, only one quarter of the businesses polled have a professional energy auditor to identify costs, and 4 out of 10 businesses lack a designated staff member to track energy use. Over 2,000 countries spanning 12 EU countries took the survey, and the smaller the business surveyed, the less funds it was able to allocate to energy efficiency.
The findings should spark governments to fund programmes to spread information and give businesses better access to tools to reduce their energy needs and carbon footprint. The contribution of SME's is instrumental if the EU wishes to meet or exceed the 2020 goal of 20% CO2 reduction.
While the survey discouraging as far as tangible progress can be measured, the poll is a sure sign that businesses and people are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment in addition to the potential profit increase of reducing their energy consumption. Many companies had already implemented less-organised measures to reduce their bills. Examples include installing energy-efficient CFL or LED lights, encouraging employees to consume less water and energy, and committing to shutting down office appliances, thereby cutting back on standby energy.
The conference is a forum where solutions can be proposed and integrated into the revised EU energy policy. The EU, which arguably leads the developed world in CO2 reform, will continue to position itself forward as a model for other developed countries on how to reduce carbon emissions, save energy, and build an economy based on using less energy. The SME just one key issue out of many that panels will discuss in Brussels-other topics will discuss renewable energy sources, decarbonising transport, and new carbon-friendly consumer products.
Author: Michael Good | Climate Action
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JLogan | Wikipedia
