Overcoming internal barriers to industrial energy efficiency through energy audit: a case study of a large manufacturing company in the home appliances industry

Chiaroni, Davide; Chiesa, Vittorio; Franzò, Simone; Frattini, Federico; Latilla, Vito Maria Manfredi

doi:10.1007/s10098-016-1298-5

Cited by 53 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Moreover, Anderson, De Dreu, and Nijstad [58] revealed that firms are about 40% more responsive to investment costs than to energy savings (operating costs). In fact, energy efficiency investments have a larger probability of being realized if the payback time is shorter than 2-3 years [72,86,87]. Thus, we identified contradicting research results considering the economic rationale that drives energy efficiency.…”

Section: Economic Driversmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…This finding is supported by an emerging literature on energy management [46,68,69], and shows that both managers' personal engagement and management practices affect firms' energy efficiency. This includes managers' awareness and sensitivity to environmental issues [40,70], their ambitions, e.g., [24,71], and commitment, e.g., [32,72]. It is also vital that top managers are involved in energy efficiency projects [73], because without such personal involvement managers might perceive energy efficiency improvements as secondary to other investments.…”

Section: Organizational Drivers For Energy Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Energy audits provide access to correct information, better follow-up activities, transparency, and understandable calculations [53]. In addition, energy audits can aid in overcoming internal barriers to industrial energy efficiency [72]. When assessing the effect of energy audits, Anderson and Newell [81] found that approximately half of the projects recommended by energy assessment teams were adopted by plants receiving these recommendations.…”

Section: Organizational Drivers For Energy Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Training at the workplace is another way of increasing the competence of individuals. Training programs contribute to both increased knowledge about available energy-efficient technologies and awareness about the importance of improving energy efficiency [26,72]. Vocational training programs can be facilitated with the help of external resources such as Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) [30] or Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) [80], or collaboration with research institutions [84].…”

Section: Organizational Drivers For Energy Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Technological fit refers to additional non-energy-related advantages following the implementation of the energy-efficient technology that also drive the investment and implementation of such technologies [72]. Examples of such advantages are: replacement of outdated production facilities [28] and increased productivity [22,64] and safety considerations [63].…”

Section: Economic Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms

Solnørdal

Foss

2018

Energies

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Abstract:Research has identified an extensive potential for energy efficiency within the manufacturing sector, which is responsible for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to enhance the knowledge of vital drivers for energy efficiency in this sector by providing a critical and systematic review of the empirical literature on drivers to energy efficiency in manufacturing firms at the firm level. The systematic literature review (SLR) is based on peer-reviewed articles published between 1998 and 2016. The findings reveal that organizational and economic drivers are, from the firms' perspective, the most prominent stimulus for energy efficiency and that they consider policy instruments and market drivers to be less important. Secondly, firm size has a positive effect on the firms' energy efficiency, while the literature is inconclusive considering sectorial impact. Third, the studies are mainly conducted in the US and Western European countries, despite the fact that future increase in energy demand is expected outside these regions. These findings imply a potential mismatch between energy policy-makers' and firm mangers' understanding of which factors are most important for achieving increased energy efficiency in manufacturing firms. Energy policies should target the stimulation of management, competence, and organizational structure in addition to the provision of economic incentives. Further understanding about which and how internal resources, organizational capabilities, and management practices impact energy efficiency in manufacturing firms is needed. Future energy efficiency scholars should advance our theoretical understanding of the relationship between energy efficiency improvements in firms, the related change processes, and the drivers that affect these processes.

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