SMEs want more assistance to tackle climate change

A new survey by Eurochambres - the umbrella organisation of European Chambers of Commerce - points to the lack of information and funds as being the main obstacles to greater SME energy efficiency.

The survey was undertaken in over 2,000 companies of all sizes and sectors in 12 European countries including Malta.

Partly financed under the EU's Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, the survey was carried out as part of the project "Change", aimed at helping SMEs optimise energy use by enhancing practical assistance.

Although, according to the survey, SMEs around the EU are well aware of the benefits of reducing their energy consumption, thus also saving on bills, this is still not considered to be among the top priorities of businesses particularly due to the funds needed to invest in modern technology reducing energy needs and also through the lack of information on the issue.

According to the survey's results, while companies of all sizes and sectors are aware of the importance and benefits of energy efficiency, small companies in particular often do not have the capacity to allocate the responsibility of energy issues to just one member of staff. Thus, more information has to be targeted at SMEs and sector specific information has to be easily available.

Companies across all sectors are taking energy efficiency measures, mainly related to staff and non-technology specific, and not requiring large up-front investment. The cost reduction potential was rated as the most important reason for energy efficiency.

Own resources and traditional forms of funding, such as bank loans, are the most common sources used, according to the survey. Besides the effects of the economic climate, lack of knowledge or awareness seems to constrain the use of other forms of funding, such as energy contracting.

According to Eurochambers, although companies are implementing soft measures and investing in infrastructure or processes to become more energy efficient, further measures are needed if the EU is to reach its 2020 goal to increase energy efficiency by 20 per cent.

With regards to energy audits these appear to be less frequent in small companies.

While 93 per cent of companies perceive energy audits as useful, only 25 per cent indicated that they have undertaken one. The percentage is higher with larger companies and in those countries where funding is available for such checks. According to the survey, energy audits have to be made more easily accessible for SMEs, for example through public funding.

Around half of businesses surveyed have already implemented spontaneous measures, for instance motivating staff to be more energy-aware or by promoting more efficient lighting, heating and cooling as well as office equipment, such as computers, printers and more.

Additionally, while three-quarters of the respondents felt they did not have the best energy supplier, they often lacked the necessary information to switch to another one. This is obviously still not possible in Malta as Enemalta enjoys a monopoly in energy supply.

More importantly, the vast majority of companies surveyed did not use any form of renewable energy.