*2.3. Energy E*ffi*ciency Management*

Energy efficiency management applies to many business areas: data centers [29], manufacturing [17,19], wastewater treatment plants [32], industry [19,28], and facility management [33] to name just a few. EEM practices, tools, and models have been promoted as promising means of reducing energy consumption or improving energy efficiency [2]. Such practices can have a substantial impact on the profitability of not only energy-intensive companies but also those with low energy costs since the reduced energy expenditures directly lead to increased profits [16]. Research conducted by Backlund et al., highlighted that having both long-term energy strategies in place and employing committed energy managers with high skill sets proved to be important factors behind spurring EE in industrial companies [34]. While there is clearly a vast potential for improved efficiency in technology, Schulze et al. stressed that available sources addressing the implementation of various efficiency measures are highly biased towards this perspective and require further best-practices for achieving enhanced EE by introducing new routines and implementing customized processes within energy management [35].

Companies and individuals might not be aware of their actual energy-related expenses. Consequently, consumers and corporate decision-makers often do not possess sufficient information regarding the net benefits of investment in technologies that have higher EE levels [14] and credible information is crucial. Households that have information on their energy bill or energy consumption are not only more likely to invest in energy-efficient light sources and appliances, but there is also strong evidence that households who regularly perform low-cost energy conservation measures are also more likely to spend money to bolster EE [36]. Telemetry systems that have dedicated hardware components (i.e., sensors, meters) and IT solutions integrated with them are used to monitor and control energy consumption. Software components of such telemetry environments are often referred to as energy management systems. The data acquired may be then processed using business intelligence (BI) analytical systems, which enable seeking root causes of high electric power consumption as well as monitoring the effectiveness of activities in the area of EE.

In various organizations, EE projects ultimately aim to establish an EE management model that enables the reduction of both electric power consumption and CO2 emissions. Fernando and Hor analyzed a number of studies to come up with a list of activities that typically comprise the energy management process [2]:


While both researchers and practitioners generally agree that business organizations may take advantage of multiple EE options, Fresner et al. point out that the more sophisticated of these options are often simply ignored [17]. Harris, Anderson, and Shafron showed that already in 2000, energy audits were likely to be among the first steps that any company might undertake when bolstering its EE, as the implementation rates of such audits were found to be high [37]. Although larger firms were overrepresented in their analysis, EE audits proved cost-effective and declared worthwhile by as many as 93% of the companies surveyed. Therefore, energy audits remain to be one of the leading instruments for introducing EEPs to overcome barriers to EE and to promote it. An energy audit may be considered a helpful tool for identifying opportunities and ascribing value to energy consumption to justify spending

resources on EE projects [2]. Viable alternatives to energy audits feature a range of external energy services that cover contractual arrangements and funding mechanisms behind improving energy efficiency in a measurable way [27] and shifting towards a sustainable energy supply. Such services include energy performance contracting, third-party financing as well as contract energy management. A long-term EE strategy ought to be set up to take advantage of available options. According to Cai et al., an energy-saving and emission reduction (ESER) strategy promotes the sustainability of the manufacturing industry in green transition [28]. In order to address some ESER shortcomings (primarily the short completion timeframe required, lack of process standardization, and tariff-related issues), to improve the EE as well as to reduce waste emissions effectively, they introduce an enhanced concept based on lean principles, i.e., lean energy-saving and emission reduction.
