EKO-Energi ÿ Successful voluntary agreements on energy efficiency and environmental control in Swedish industry

Panel: Panel 1: Assessment of Energy Efficiency Policy

Authors:
Ulrika Uggla, Swedish National Energy Administration (STEM)
Diana Avasoo, Avasoo Consulting

Abstract

In 1994 the National Board for Industrial and Technical Development, NUTEK, started a programme titled EKO-Energi. The programme's objective was long-term energy efficiency within larger energy intensive industrial companies. EKO-Energi will contribute to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels. The aim is also to allow companies to cut energy costs and to reduce the demand on power generation as well as to limit the use of fossil fuels. The programme runs until year 2001 and then it will be reviewed.

72 industries signed the voluntary agreement with NUTEK/STEM. The programme supports the 1992 Rio Conference's Agenda 21 and the Kyoto protocol in 1997. Therefore, the participating companies received an environmental analysis in order to speed up their application for certification according to ISO 14001 or EMAS. The analyses identified a possible reduction of CO_2 of 104 ktons per year. The results up to now show bigger savings. In this paper we are going to present the incentives that made the industries join the programme, the tools that were offered for energy efficient purchasing and the results up to date. We have also carried out a study showing the effects of change in behaviour on the premises as a result of education and increased awareness.