The International Energy Agency (IEA) (2014) describes ‘energy efficiency’ as the world’s ‘first fuel’, because it is cost effective, competitive and widely available. In a sense, energy efficiency can yield energy savings that ultimately reduce the need for energy production – hence it is considered an energy resource. Energy efficiency can be described as the process of delivering the same service while using less energy, and minimising energy losses due to inefficiencies.
Impact of energy efficiency
- Organisations with an effective Energy Management System (EnMS) are:
- Positioned to meet stringent standards of energy efficiency introduced by regulators.
- Uncertainty in both the energy market and the impact of fuel prices have emphasized the value of energy efficiency for business operations.
- The impact of carbon tax, National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) and the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) 12L Tax incentives in South Africa further establish the need to transition business towards implementing energy efficiency policies.
- Effective EnMS implementation reduces:
- Energy costs
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- Other environmental impacts
- The ISO 50001 standard establishes an international framework for the supply, use and consumption of energy across industrial, commercial and institutional organisations.
Organisation’s incorporating energy efficiency as part of their strategic objectives are positioned to:
- Outperform competition
- Reduce operational costs
- Reinforce their sustainability
- Gain market share
The resulting benefits are:
- Increased profit margins
- Attracting investors
- Increased earnings per share
Energy efficiency has been proven to provide financial, environmental and social benefits such as health benefits and increased disposable income.
Elevation REH Africa considers the above in granular detail to provide you with effective and reliable advice on enhancing your personal and business benefits through energy efficiency. Our approach incorporates:
- Applicable and relevant technology: Metering, Data Collection, Data Analysis and Benchmarking
- Appropriate regulations such as ISO 50001, SANS 204, SANS 10400-XA which regulate Energy Management Systems (EnMS), Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in buildings as well as environmental sustainability
- Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM): Tool to effectively reduce your energy consumption and costs, while still achieving or even expanding your productivity, using a combination of energy efficiency, energy conservation and load management
With this approach, we can work together to identify the best improvement opportunities and establish fundamental energy policies and strategies for your organisation’s competitive advantage and sustainability.