Proposals for new energy saving assessments for larger firms in the UK have been published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). These assessments, required by the new Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), will enable companies to identify opportunities to save money on energy bills through improved energy efficiency and could benefit the UK by £1.9bn.
Under the scheme, which is being developed as part of the UK’s implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, large enterprises will be required to undertake ESOS assessments to identify cost-effective ways to invest in energy efficiency, helping reduce energy bills and increase competitiveness.
Organisations who take up energy efficiency recommendations will face lower energy bills – on average, an enterprise taking up recommendations from energy savings assessment will invest £15,000 per year in energy efficiency measures and benefit from bill savings of £56,400 per year.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:
“Effective energy efficiency means cutting out waste and increasing profits. These new energy saving assessments will help our largest firms identify where money can be saved by installing energy efficiency measures. The potential benefits of cutting down on energy waste are significant – £56,400 savings per year on the energy bills of the average large business.”
Commenting on the Government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), Gareth Stace, Had of Climate and Environment at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “Any final proposals must take into account the significant differences between targeted sectors, that is commercial, industry and energy intensive sectors. A one-size-fits-all solution will not deliver cost effective improvements in energy efficiency in the manufacturing sector – rather it will create more unwelcome red tape in an already over-regulated and crowded area of policy.”
The consultation on ESOS proposals will run until 3 October 2013.
Original Article in Energy in Buildings and Industry. Nr. 2 Sept 2013
