Energy is the lifeblood of modern life, without it things simply do not happen. Energy however, comes at a price, a price that is more than simply its monetary cost but its environmental cost as well.
Climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions is at the heart of the various emissions targets agreed by countries around the world and set out in the Kyoto Protocol. Governments worldwide, including the UK and EU have agreed reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and have introduced policy and legislation aimed at achieving these targets. While many measures can be taken to reduce emissions, using energy efficiently is widely accepted as the most cost effective way of achieving the targets set.
In the UK various fiscal measures have been introduced to encourage industry and commerce to invest in energy efficient technologies and improve their energy efficiency. These measures include the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the use of energy and; Enhanced Capital Allowances that reward businesses that invest in approved technologies to reduce their energy use. In addition specialist agencies such as the Carbon Trust and Action Energy are developing schemes and other measures on behalf of the Government to further reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Across the EU similar measures are being adopted by member governments and the EU itself has been implementing directives aimed at meeting its obligations. These include an emission trading scheme and the European Building Performance Directive.
Energy efficiency has been improving steadily over recent years, but the technical potential to further reduce energy use, using tried and tested technologies, is well established. It is estimated that across the UK economy as a whole energy use could be reduced by around 30% and within the EU by at least 15% in the medium term.
At an individual level managing energy is about delivering savings, savings which can provide positive benefits to a business in terms of its operating costs but also positive benefits to the environment in terms of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. Better still, far from being difficult to achieve these benefits can be easily realised by most businesses and at ENER·G we have a range of solutions tailored to deliver maximum savings, fast.