Energy Efficiency

Spotlight on EU funded project – Unlocking SME potential: Financing energy efficiency for a sustainable future

The paper discusses the challenges Europe faces in promoting sustainability and resilience, highlighting the key role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European economy. It emphasizes the importance of enhancing energy efficiency within SMEs, connecting it to Europe's health due to SMEs' significant contribution to employment and value generation. The paper references the DEESME 2050 project, demonstrating the potential benefits of energy performance improvements in SMEs, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering resilience. However, it points out the financial and capacity constraints SMEs face in achieving these improvements. The International Energy Agency's Energy Efficiency 2024 report is cited, suggesting that policy implementation needs to accelerate, and investment in energy efficiency must increase to align with global climate goals. The paper also refers to past efforts, like the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group, which worked toward enhancing energy efficiency investment in Europe. The EU's commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 is detailed, as well as the establishment of the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition in 2024 to foster investment in energy efficiency. The need for financial support for SMEs and the role of intermediaries, such as the not-for-profit organisation Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes (EEIP), are underscored. The paper concludes by stressing the centrality of SMEs to Europe's economy and innovation, the importance of energy efficiency for competitiveness, and the urgent need for scaling up support to SMEs, using the ongoing DEESME 2050 project as an example of effective assistance to the furniture industry's SMEs.

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Powering Europe's Clean Energy Future: Key Elements of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive
Energy Efficiency

Powering Europe's Clean Energy Future: Key Elements of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive

The EU Energy Efficiency Directive sets binding targets to reduce energy use by 2030 and introduces measures across sectors for energy savings, prioritizing efficiency, sustainability, and enhanced energy security for European citizens and businesses, requiring member states to implement various efficiency strategies and reporting mechanisms.

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Digital Revolution in Motor Systems: Powering the Future of Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency

Digital Revolution in Motor Systems: Powering the Future of Energy Efficiency

The paper highlights the revolution of motor systems through digital technologies enhancing efficiency, despite challenges such as lack of standardization and cybersecurity risks. Innovations include smart sensors, IoT, and AI-driven analytics, with case studies showing significant energy savings. Opportunities exist for professionals in data science and cybersecurity.

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Connecting the dots of Energy Efficiency Directive with sustainable finance reporting. The full potential unlocked.
Energy Efficiency

Connecting the dots of Energy Efficiency Directive with sustainable finance reporting. The full potential unlocked.

The European Commission issued guidelines to aid EU member states in adopting the Energy Efficiency Directive by October 2025. Recommendation 2024/2002 promotes an integrated approach to energy audits, management systems, and sustainability reporting, supporting compliance with broader EU directives.

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Unlocking True Value: Why Multiple Benefits Are the Future of Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency

Unlocking True Value: Why Multiple Benefits Are the Future of Energy Efficiency

The M-Benefits project reveals that energy efficiency investments often overlook crucial benefits like product quality, operational risk reduction, and competitiveness. This gap persists despite clear profitability, as conventional appraisal methods focus narrowly on energy savings. The project provides tools, training, and case studies to help professionals communicate and leverage a project's full value, urging a shift to encompass strategic business outcomes, beyond mere technical improvements.

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Overcoming Barriers: How Article 11 of the Energy Efficiency Directive Is Driving Real Change Across Europe
Energy Efficiency

Overcoming Barriers: How Article 11 of the Energy Efficiency Directive Is Driving Real Change Across Europe

DEESME project enhances EU energy management via collaboration, clear communications and focusing on multiple benefits, addressing challenges SMEs face in compliance, audit quality, and recognizing wider advantages of energy efficiency beyond savings.

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Five Big Steps for a Smarter, Greener Europe: Rethinking National Energy Schemes
Energy Efficiency

Five Big Steps for a Smarter, Greener Europe: Rethinking National Energy Schemes

The DEESME project aims to simplify energy efficiency for European SMEs by providing practical national scheme recommendations that are user-centered, highlighting benefits, and making policy guidelines clear and accessible, alongside incentivizing benchmarking and carbon footprint tracking.

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Beyond Energy Savings: How European SMEs Are Leading the Way with the Multiple Benefits Approach
Energy Efficiency

Beyond Energy Savings: How European SMEs Are Leading the Way with the Multiple Benefits Approach

The DEESME project demonstrates how SMEs across Europe benefit from integrated energy audits by achieving energy savings and unlocking multiple business advantages, such as enhanced innovation, employee satisfaction, and resilience.

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Redefining Energy Audits: The DEESME Multiple Benefits Approach for European SMEs
Energy Efficiency

Redefining Energy Audits: The DEESME Multiple Benefits Approach for European SMEs

The DEESME Multiple Benefits Approach transforms energy audits for SMEs into a strategic business improvement tool, emphasizing productivity, sustainability, and employee wellbeing, beyond mere compliance. This innovative method fosters holistic benefits and equips future leaders to drive the energy transition.

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Energy Management Reinvented: How the Multiple Benefit Approach Is Transforming European SMEs
Energy Efficiency

Energy Management Reinvented: How the Multiple Benefit Approach Is Transforming European SMEs

The DEESME project promotes a Multiple Benefit approach, integrating energy efficiency with broader business goals in SMEs, aligning with EU sustainability policy and enhancing various non-energy aspects, such as safety and product quality.

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