The Importance of Energy Efficiency

Driving efficiency in an energy management strategy requires both reducing consumption and increasing the quality of the energy used but, to successfully strike this balance, organizations must first empower behavioral change within their team. Renee Gastineau, Business Solutions Director at ENGIE Impact discusses how changes at the site level can positively impact your holistic energy strategy and add value to the business.

Why Should Organizations Prioritize Energy Efficiency?

The goal of energy management and energy efficiency programs is to reduce site-level energy consumption through both improved technology and a shift toward sustainably conscious behavior by individuals. These types of interventions help reduce carbon emissions at the site and portfolio level. Other methods include transitioning away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner energy sources, positively impacting the sustainable efforts of an organization and, if done strategically, the bottom line.

How Does Energy Efficiency Drive Sustainability?

Simply put, the less energy you use, the less carbon emissions you output. The type of energy you use is also important to consider. Electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, has a much lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels like natural gas and oil. Many of our current clients and potential new customers are driving towards Net Zero targets. To reach their goals, organizations must move away from fossil fuels, reduce consumption and invest in renewable energy resources. Establishing a robust energy efficiency reduction program helps the customer balance the investment in renewable energy and carbon offsets necessary to meet their carbon emissions reduction targets.

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What Can This Look Like For an Organization?

In addition to the actions we have already touched on, organizations can drive change from the inside out by embedding energy efficiency best practices into training programs for managers and employees at the site level. By identifying and adopting site-level behavior changes like turning off systems when not in use and maximizing proper heating and cooling levels, organizations can see big improvements in their consumption data. To further take advantage of their data, organizations can benchmark themselves against peer groups in their industry through portfolio benchmarking or ENERGY STAR®.

What's Your Outlook Energy Efficiency as a Prioirty?

I am excited that energy management is becoming more embedded in the business decisions and culture of companies. It allows companies and their employees to feel empowered to address climate change. There is an abundance of opportunities to reduce consumption, transition to renewable energy, reduce risk and add value across the organization.