Energy efficiency and the Energy Crisis of 2024
The pandemic, heatwaves, droughts, and unrest have led to a global energy crisis. Europe is now facing the highest energy prices in the world, and increased energy costs have not spared other countries either. Energy is critical for organizational operations and can represent a significant cost item. The goal is to optimize energy consumption throughout the entire production chain, from raw materials to recycling. In addition to the economic costs of energy, it can also impose additional ecological and social costs through the depletion of natural resources and contribute to problems such as climate change.
As major energy consumers, businesses need to consider how they can control their energy use. Without efficient energy management, overhead costs increase, profits decrease, and companies may become less competitive in the markets they serve. ISO 50001 provides organizations with the opportunity to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and lessen their environmental impact. Although primarily intended for industry, the standard can be applied to any type of organization that wants to effectively manage energy use and efficiency.
Energy-saving efficiency measures may include using energy-efficient heating and cooling devices, improving the insulation properties of buildings, using solar systems for heating water, utilizing low-energy lighting, using ICT equipment with low energy consumption, managing heating and lighting when not in the building, using renewable sources for energy, and in industry: using energy-efficient driving motors, using vehicles with lower energy consumption.
Examples from neighboring countries can serve as inspiration for us to creatively participate in the fight against the energy crisis and rising prices. For example, Germany, France, and Spain are implementing rules that limit heating in public buildings to 19 degrees Celsius during the winter. France and Spain have also introduced a minimum temperature limit for air-conditioned buildings during summer, set at 26 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Another proposal is to turn off lights, with the idea that public buildings and monuments will no longer be illuminated at night, and that store windows will not be lit at night. This crisis could also serve as a huge incentive for the implementation of renewable energy. Shortening the workweek, working from home, and reducing working hours during peak energy consumption periods could also contribute to savings.
Energy efficiency, which involves performing processes in the same way with less energy, is becoming an imperative for businesses to achieve planned energy savings in line with the government’s other measures.