Page 40 - index

EU directives aim to reduce energy
consumption by 1.5% annually
between 2014 and 2020, so most
manufacturing company organizations will need to implement tax incentives in varying
can improve its proft energy-effciency programs degrees. However, starting
margin by 2% within in 2013, only companies that
three years, helping to to ensure compliance implement energy-effciency
strengthen industrial management systems in line
players and maintain Europe and the US as strong with ISO 50001/EN 16001 certifcation and meet
manufacturing centers (fgure 2). annual energy-savings targets are eligible for them.
As of today, less than 20% of German and Swiss
Compliance with tightening industrial frms with more than 250 employees
have that certifcation, and many do not yet meet
regulatory requirements the requirements (fgure 3).
Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 framework
EU directives aim to reduce energy consumption proposes similar measures with compulsory
by 1.5% annually between 2014 and 2020, so effciency targets and sanctions for companies that
most organizations will need to implement energy- miss them. Meeting energy-effciency standards
effciency programs to ensure compliance. Energy will become a prerequisite for participating in
management at large companies will be audited public tenders. Energy inspections will help reduce
every four years, and several current ministerial consumption.
draft bills indicate that simplifed procedures are
planned for small and medium-sized enterprises.
National rules concretely implementing the EU’s Corporate social responsibility
plans are to be applied by June 2014. Reducing energy consumption and using
Germany introduced an energy tax (the “eco-tax”) renewable energy sources demonstrate good
in 1999 to encourage energy savings in the private, corporate citizenship, both strengthening the
public and commercial sectors. To lessen the corporate image and contributing to sales. A long-
impact on manufacturing companies, which were term sustainability strategy can make the company
hit hardest by the new tax, German lawmakers more attractive to investors and suppliers.
also introduced a tax relief - as high as 90% for Effciency programs also boost employee morale
energy-intensive production processes like steel or and help make companies more attractive
cement production. Over the years, some 100,000 employers. GE’s energy “treasure hunts” bring
German companies had benefted from these together energy experts and employees at

Fig. 3 – Energy tax relief.
Energy tax relief for energy-
intensive companies with
more than 250 employees
in Germany (in %) (Source:
EnergieAgentur NRW)

38 Impiantistica Italiana - Novembre-Dicembre 2013