Mark Doyle, Senior Account Manager, Key Account Management at SEFE Energy
In recent months, the European Commission (EC) has put energy efficiency front and centre in what it describes as a “new impetus” for reaching EU energy and climate goals.
The focus of the EC’s dedicated campaign was unpacked at the IEA Global Energy Efficiency Conference in Brussels on the13 June 2025 where the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, pledged a renewed commitment towards energy efficiency.
The central premise was articulated as such: “to fight climate change, to provide our people with affordable clean energy, for our own security, energy efficiency needs to be at the core of everything we do”.
Among the list of ten energy efficiency areas and a number of specific deliverables – including an Efficiency Action Forum with EU countries and a guarantee scheme for SMEs – was the need, quite simply to increase energy efficiency awareness among businesses and communities.
How key could energy efficiency awareness be in supporting a Europe-wide clean energy transition and helping to protect businesses from the impacts of price and supply volatility? Let’s explore.
The case for energy efficiency
I should firstly note that the conference also saw the launch of a new paper from the International Energy Agency (IAE), “Gaining an edge – the role of energy efficiency in industrial competitiveness”. The report’s findings provide a good basis for exploring common obstacles to energy efficiency and where organisations are seeing value.
The paper notes that while industrial energy demand has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by China and India, progress in industrial energy efficiency has slowed and stagnated.
The prize for those that do succeed in boosting their energy efficiency can be significant – the IAE calculates that for EU firms with high energy costs and thin profit margins, that a 10% energy saving is equivalent to the profit from a 4-16% increase in sales.
The report also noted a connection between energy efficiency investments and labour productivity or job satisfaction. A link between these investments and improved indoor environments – better lighting, air quality and thermal comfort are often tied to enhanced worker satisfaction and attendance.
Key obstacles to energy efficiency
From the IAE’s surveying of 1,000 industrial firms across 14 countries it found that, unsurprisingly, upfront cost barriers were identified by companies as the main obstacle to implementing energy efficiency improvements. This was followed by information barriers (lack of data to make the business case or understanding on available options) and skills shortages in key energy efficiency occupations.
The data point is key one – to put it plainly, accurate data is absolutely essential. In order to measure energy efficiency improvements, we need precise data to track energy consumption accurately. By analysing historical data, we can identify inefficiencies, pinpoint areas for improvement, and predict future energy needs – a key part of becoming more energy efficient.
Linked to this is the value of audits for helping us understand trends and patterns in energy use. Less than a third of the surveyed companies had carried out an energy audit in the past five years and for companies with fewer than 100 employees, only 15% had carried out an energy audit in the last five years.
The value of quick-wins
While the report goes on to articulate the bigger scale policy asks to best support industry in reducing energy usage, it also hones in on the “quick-win” measures that can help to deliver savings – everything from power management of equipment and installation of LED lighting systems and encouraging behavioural changes.
It may sound simple, but educating teams about smarter energy management is one of the most effective ways to set in place the core foundations needed to help reach net zero.
At SEFE Energy, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits of this culture change and education piece for staff. An employee-led energy strategy is always going to reap stronger results – when this is aligned with a wider sustainability programme and goal, it’s more likely to galvanise employees.
The case for energy efficiency
As underscored by the European Commission and the findings of the IAE, energy efficiency offers far-reaching benefits, from reducing costs to improving working conditions and driving industrial competitiveness. Even modest efficiency gains can yield significant financial returns and greater resilience against market volatility.
While the EC’s full vision will only be realised with the support and collaboration of Governments and policymakers, energy efficiency is one of the most effective tools we have now to work towards net zero goals and this can begin quite simply with awareness, auditing and action.
This article appeared in the Nov/Dec 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.