Wie lange werden die Gasreserven der Bundesrepublik noch halten, und steuert Deutschland dann auf eine Energiekrise zu? Energiesparen in Unternehmen: Fragen wie diese bereiten Unternehmen derzeit große Sorgen. reichelt elektronik hat mehr als 1000 Unternehmen in Europa – darunter 500 in Deutschland – gefragt, welchen Einfluss die derzeitige Situation in der Energieversorgung auf ihre Wirtschaftlichkeit hat und was Unternehmen tun, um Energie zu sparen.
Skyrocketing costs hit the majority of companies hard
78 percent of all companies surveyed say that rising energy prices are already negatively affecting their profitability. Only ten percent are not fussed about rising prices.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed (70%) believe that the price increase will have a negative impact on their company in the long term if the trend continues. This scenario is likely for almost half of companies: 43 percent expect energy costs to rise significantly over the next three years; while an additional 39 percent expect a more moderate increase. Furthermore, 92 percent of participants expect a drastic spike in energy costs in the short term.
When asked about the developments in the energy market which would cause the greatest damage to their company, more than half (60%) cite rising prices due to dwindling energy reserves. This is followed by a shortage of oil and natural gas due to a lack of imports (41%). Only a quarter (25%) are concerned about rising investment costs due to stricter energy requirements imposed by the European Parliament.
What can companies do?
Just like private individuals, companies have little room to act when it comes to influencing energy prices. Companies must therefore tackle the problem head-on and seek or develop individual solutions. For example, just under half (41%) of companies already use electricity they generate on their own – for example through solar panels on company premises. 39 percent have negotiated special conditions in their contracts with oil, gas or electricity suppliers.
Specifically, the following measures have already been taken most frequently in companies:
- 89% – Replacing all light sources with LEDs
- 76% – Raising employees’ awareness of the need to save energy
- 67% – Improving building insulation
- 61% – Automation of lighting
Overcoming hurdles and becoming a more energy-efficient company
Anhand dieser Aufstellung wird deutlich, dass die meisten Unternehmen bereits die leicht umzusetzenden und konkreten Aufgaben in Angriff genommen haben. Zum Beispiel haben 89 Prozent bereits Maßnahmen ergriffen, um Leuchtmittel durch stromsparende LEDs zu ersetzen, und mehr als die Hälfte der Unternehmen (55%) sehen in diesem Bereich ihre Umstellung als abgeschlossen an. Andere Maßnahmen, die in der Umsetzung komplexer sind, haben sich dagegen in Unternehmen noch nicht weitläufig durchgesetzt. So werden das Ersetzen alter Maschinen durch neue effizientere Maschinen oder die Einführung eines Energie-Management-Systems zwar als erwägenswerte Optionen zum Energiesparen gesehen, jedoch noch nicht so häufig umgesetzt.
The biggest hurdle for companies is that saving energy is a complex issue (32%). It is difficult for them to assess the benefits of individual measures and there is a lack of easily accessible examples of their application. But what even are the right and most efficient measures? 28% of respondents are at a loss when it comes to this question.
The second biggest hurdle is lacking the necessary budget (27%). Especially when it comes to larger and more comprehensive investments such as smart building automation solutions, the high initial investment becomes an insurmountable obstacle.
“Today, companies find themselves at a crucial point in history”, concludes Holger Engelbrecht, Product Manager Tools & Lighting at reichelt elektronik. “The first steps toward more energy-efficient operation have already been taken. Now the next challenges are on the horizon, requiring companies to make greater investments and more profound changes in their energy management. At the same time, we can see the current situation as a wake-up call. Sooner or later, we will have no choice but to manage our energy resources more efficiently.”
More information:
Survey: The figures were collected for reichelt elektronik by the international survey institute OnePoll and include 1550 participants from Europe.
Image rights: reichelt elektronik
