Press release
Energy efficiency key to create a turn in energy politics
Background paper by oekom research and Eurosif highlights energysaving potentials by sector and the role of the financial market
Munich, 14 April 2011 – By increasing energy efficiency, Europe could reduce
its energy consumption substantially. In the wake of the nuclear disaster in Japan
and debate about an energy transition, share prices of solar and wind power
companies have shot up, while systematic energy saving is being largely neglected. The new ‘Theme Report Energy Efficiency’ by the sustainability rating
agency oekom research AG and the European umbrella organisation for sustainable investment Eurosif points out potential areas for saving energy and important drivers for energy efficiency in various sectors. It also shows the importance
the financial market has in promoting energy efficiency and the opportunities for
investors to profit from it.
The background paper, which is published as part of the EU Sustainable Energy
Week, examines the challenges and the current status of and outlook for measures to increase energy efficiency in eight sectors: machinery, metal production,
mobility and logistics, power generation, real estate, cement, chemicals as well
as information and communication technology. While the need in the machinery
industry is chiefly for measures to reduce the energy and fuel consumption of its
products, the focus in the metals sector is on energy-efficient production, e.g.
through the use of secondary raw materials. Current energy intensities of copper
manufacturers analysed by oekom research range from six to 75 gigajoules per
tonne. This shows the enormous potential for energy saving measures.
Real estate sector has up to 90 per cent energy saving potential
The challenge in the real estate sector lies in the consistent implementation of
binding guidelines and measures to improve energy efficiency. According to the
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,
this need can be reduced specifically for older buildings by retrofits such as insulations by 50 per cent on an average and up to 90 per cent in particular cases.
Sophie Rahm, Eurosif Head of Research, comments: “Energy efficiency is a topic
that cuts across all sectors and needs to be addressed at various levels. Of specific interest is the real estate sector, where a lot can be done to improve energy
efficiency, such as retrofitting. Investors and regulations alike are both important
catalysts for change in this field.”
All in all, the EU Commission sees potential energy savings of more than 27 per
cent in the real estate sector, around 25 per cent in manufacturing industry and
about 26 per cent in the transport sector. In order to make the most of these opportunities, the Commission has approved a series of action plans and guidelines, some of which will impact directly on the structuring of companies’ production processes and on their products. These include, for example, guidelines on
environmentally-friendly design and on the energy labelling of products.
page 1 of 3
Energy consumption increasingly a factor in purchasing decisions
However, politicians are not alone in calling companies to account. The energy
consumption of products is becoming an increasingly important factor in the purchasing decisions of both business and private customers and in public procurement. For example, in Germany, almost all consumers take fuel consumption into
account when purchasing a car, while electricity consumption is an important
consideration for the majority of people buying a television. The extension of
mandatory labelling will mean that in the future even more emphasis will be
placed on this particular product feature.
Finally, pressure is also being exerted on the cost side. “Companies which structure their production processes in an energy-efficient way and help their customers to save energy through the quality of their products will give themselves a
competitive edge in the international market,” says Rolf D. Häßler, Director Product & Market Development at oekom research.
The financial market as a lever for developing energy efficiency
The results of the sectoral analyses presented in the theme report are also of
relevance to the financial market. The question of whether companies can operate in an energy-efficient and thus cost-efficient way and still supply products that
are able to succeed in the marketplace will play an increasingly important role in
capital investment. At the same time, the financial market can actively promote
this development, for example by providing venture capital for innovative efficiency technologies. Häßler summarises the situation as follows: “The financial
market has a key role to play in increasing energy efficiency. Financing and investment policies can give important stimuli to the economy for improving energy
efficiency.”
The English-language Theme Report Energy Efficiency can be downloaded from
http://www.oekom-research.com/index_en.php?content=studien
Further information can be obtained from:
oekom research AG
Silke Ladewig, Corporate Communications
Goethestraße 28, 80336 Munich, Germany
phone +49 (0)89 544184-64
[email protected]
Eurosif
Ioana Dolcos, Communications and Policy Officer
La Ruche, 84 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris, France
phone +33 (0)1 48 03 92 01
[email protected]
page 2 of 3
oekom research – the rating agency
oekom research is one of the world’s leading rating agencies in the field of sustainable
investment. The agency analyses companies and countries with regard to their environmental and social performance. oekom research has extensive experience as a partner to institutional investors and financial service providers, identifying issuers of securities and bonds which are distinguished by their responsible management of social and
environmental issues. More than 70 asset managers and asset owners routinely draw on
the rating agency’s research in their investment decision-making. oekom research’s analyses therefore currently influence the management of assets valued at over 90 billion
euros.
Eurosif
Eurosif (the European Sustainable Investment Forum) is a pan-European network and
think-tank of national Sustainable Investment Forums whose mission is to develop sustainability through European financial markets. Current affiliate members of Eurosif include institutional investors, financial service providers, academic institutes, research
associations and NGOs. The association is not-for-profit entity that represents assets
totalling over 1 trillion euros through its Member Affiliates.
page 3 of 3