The Italian Energy Audits model: A “cocktail” of best practices that lead to success

The Italian Energy Audits model: A “cocktail” of best practices that lead to success

In March this year, I wrote about the how the Italian model could unlock the great energy efficiency potential in the country’s SMEs. While energy audits are mandatory for large companies, Italy requires them for certain SMEs as well.
New data presented in the Energy Efficiency Annual Report 2017 published by ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development, confirms how the energy audits model continues to be successful in Italy. 2016 data reveals that 20% of the total energy audits received were performed by SMEs, and shows that potential savings between 0,8 Mtoe and 1,1 Mtoe could be achieved with a payback period equal or less then three to five years respectively.  
What is the secret to this success? We already know that one of the keys is that the Italian model requires SMEs to undergo energy audits in case it is an energy consuming company, and mandatory implementations of the identified measures.

Fossil Fuel Swap: New Study Shows ‘Overlooked’ Benefits of Switching from Coal to Gas

Fossil Fuel Swap: New Study Shows ‘Overlooked’ Benefits of Switching from Coal to Gas

A recent report published in Nature Energy by researchers at two UK institutions, the University of Sheffield and Imperial College London, considers the “enabling conditions in Great Britain and the potential for rapid fuel switching in other coal-reliant countries.” The report found that the United Kingdom’s overall carbon emissions dropped by 6% in 2016, thanks to “cleaner electricity production.” Importantly, the report found that the reduction was not due to an increase in lower-carbon nuclear or renewable energy sources, but rather, the underestimated benefits of switching from coal to natural gas energy generation. If a fuel switch can be encouraged to make better use of existing gas infrastructure, the fuel switch may be able to scale up quickly and produce significant near-term emission reductions.

Cybersecurity and the power grid

Cybersecurity and the power grid

In the face of the mounting threats of cyberattacks and the vulnerable, interdependent electric grid systems, governments, utilities, businesses, and people need to come together and do what is necessary to be prepared. No one can afford to be complacent. This was the message at the Energy Infrastructure and Cybersecurity forum held by Leaders in Energy at Make Offices in Arlington, VA (Clarendon) on June 1, 2017.

Dream, Team, Beam, and Full Steam Ahead to Sustainability!

The third annual Leaders in Energy Four Generations of Leaders in Clean Energy and Sustainable Solutions award and networking event on December 2, 2016 recognized energy and sustainability leaders from four generations of awardees.

Smart Grid Perspectives – Bottlenecks in Today’s Grid Transformation

By BERT TAUBE, Ph.D. “Smart Grid” is a term coined in the early 2000s to refer to the necessary electric grid modernization in the U.S....

Leaders in Energy Awards & Holiday Event Recap: Honoring 4 Generations of Clean Energy and Sustainability Leaders

Leaders in Energy Awards & Holiday Event Recap: Honoring 4 Generations of Clean Energy and Sustainability Leaders

By KERRY WORTHINGTON, Leaders in Energy Reporter At the second annual Leaders in Energy “4 Generations: Leadership in Clean Energy & Sustainability” event on December...

Managing difficult change in large energy organizations: Catching up with Josh Silverman

Managing difficult change in large energy organizations: Catching up with Josh Silverman

By TRAVIS HIGH, Leaders in Energy Leaders in Energy’s 4 Generations (4 Gen) event is a celebration of multigenerational achievement in sustainability. Last year was...

White House Champions of Change Share Their Journey to Climate Action

White House Champions of Change Share Their Journey to Climate Action

By CARLA A. FLEMING, Chief Marketing Officer for Leaders in Energy White House Climate Faith Leaders, Champions of Change Event, July 20, 2015, Eisenhower Executive Office...