Energy management: a key driver of energy-efficiency investment?

Panel: 1. Foundations of future energy policy

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Catherine Cooremans, Université de Lausanne, Groupe Ecologie Industrielle, FGSE / IDYST, Switzerland
Alain Schönenberger, Université of Neuchâtel
Institut de recherches économiques, Switzerland

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency is the primary pillar of the Swiss "Energy Strategy 2050". Investments in energy efficiency often remain undecided, however, and there is a large potential for enhancing energy efficiency in the industrial and commercial sectors in Switzerland.

Within this context, the aim of the research project “Management as a key driver of energy performance” (M_Key) is to assess the influence of the level of energy management on companies’ energy-efficiency investment decision-making. M_Key is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and is part of the National Research Programme “Managing Energy Consumption” (NRP 71; 2015-2017; www.nrp71.ch). The overarching objective of the project is to gain a better understanding of energy-efficiency investment decision-making by large-scale energy consumer companies. With about 35% of the total Swiss electricity consumption, these companies are an important target group for energy efficiency measures in Switzerland. It is expected that research results will enable to characterize and categorize Swiss large-scale energy companies based on their energy uses and financial behaviours, which will help frame customized policies.

M_Key empirical research applies three research methods chronologically: 1. Survey. 2. Interviews. 3. Case studies. The goal of this paper is to describe the findings of M_Key survey; it will then discuss the implications of these findings for future energy policy.