The majority of small and medium business believe they do have a role in tackling climate change with more organisations than ever before investigating energy efficiency options. That is according to research conducted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), designed to inform how best to help the SME sector address the challenge of greater energy efficiency.
The research was revealed to coincide with the recently held SEAI Energy Show 2019, which took place at the RDS, Dublin. It also highlights the fact that businesses believe they can still do a lot more to help tackle climate change.
Among the most common actions currently being taken by businesses to reduce their energy costs are; to switch energy providers and, to install energy saving lighting.
Only one in five organisations believe that they have already done all that they can do. For those who do consider their energy use, the biggest obstacles preventing them from acting are lack of time and lack of funding.
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD said: “Sectors are going to have to transform themselves if they are to thrive in a decarbonised society.
"Early adopters will seize the enterprise opportunities in a low carbon economy, including the new circular and bio economies. We have seen some pioneers commit to 50 per cent emissions savings. We need more sectors to take up the challenge, developing clusters promoting best practice in their sector.”
SME sector spends more than €2bn annually on energy
The SME sector spends more than €2 billion annually on energy, of which 10 per cent can be readily saved through good energy management practices. Lighting, heating and air conditioning are among the typical high energy users in businesses, and so are where the most immediate savings can be made.
Jim Gannon, CEO of SEAI, said: “We know that it is always a challenging environment for small and medium enterprises. This research shows that energy is, perhaps understandably, low on the priority list, with businesses more concerned about attracting customers, their competitors and cash flow.
"Energy efficiency and the resulting energy savings go straight to the company’s bottom line and can often be achieved more easily than growing revenue. It is worrying therefore when up to a quarter of survey respondents say they are simply not interested in, or have not investigated in, the opportunities to be more energy efficient.
“All businesses, large and small, have a role in decarbonising our expanding economy. To ensure that long-term reductions in operating costs are locked in, this means actually reducing energy consumption, rather than just switching energy providers for short term tariff savings.”