Integration of non-energy benefits into energy audit practices to accelerate the uptake of recommended measures

ended

Energy audit has high impact to energy efficiency investments which provides tailor-made recommendations and help to overcome the information gap regarding barriers to energy efficiency. However, the current energy audit approach usually includes only analysis on direct energy cost savings but non-energy benefits (NEBs) such as improved product quality, indoor comfort, increased productivity, less down time due to maintenance and other important benefits are not addressed. This means that energy audits underestimate the true value of energy efficiency measures, which leads to slower uptake of recommended measures. The aspect of NEBs and its perception by the enterprises is not shown in the current energy audit calculation methodologies. Only the direct energy savings are presented in energy audits. Moreover, the national energy efficiency programs for industry also do not consider the inclusion of NEBs. Thus, the energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with greater importance for enterprises but reaching lower energy savings fail to access the investments for the project implementation. Therefore, the project aims to develop a new calculation methodology and result presenting approach for enterprises to clearly show and assess their potential overall benefit including the multiple benefits of energy efficiency as well as non-energy benefits (NEBs) from the implementation of energy efficiency measures, fostering the investments in energy efficiency and sustainable actions. The new methodological approach will be added to the existing energy auditing practices in each partner country and tested by carrying out pilot energy audits in the food and beverage sector. Results will be presented to policy makers, energy experts and other industries for the takeover of the methodological approach on a larger scale.