Save costs through Energy Management Programmes

Businesses able to save costs through Energy Management Programmes

An Energy Management Programme capable of delivering energy cost savings of up to 30%* for businesses, has been launched by Heather Staley, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

"Emprove is based on market research with large energy users. It has been designed to help businesses shave significant dollars off their operating costs. It's all about the bottom line, pure and simple," says Heather Staley.

She says the current debate around future supply and energy prices means the timing for the launch of the service could not be better.

"Given what's happening in the energy market, we're seeing a shift in how companies relate to energy use. Traditionally, many companies haven't actively managed energy in the same way they have actively managed other resources such as IT, human resources and machinery. This is because energy is not such a visible resource, and it's related to as an overhead rather than a variable cost that can be controlled. Emprove, as an Energy Management Programme, gives business the knowledge and tools to actively manage their energy use - energy management by design rather than by default," Ms Staley said.

Heather Staley says the business sector consumes about 60 percent of New Zealand's total energy which costs it around $2.2 billion per year. Emprove is specifically targeting the top 300 energy users, which between them consume about 90 percent of the business sector's energy use. For these organisations, Emprove begins with the application of diagnostic software which identifies the organisation's current energy position and what can be done to reduce costs. A customised energy management plan is then developed. For other businesses, Emprove provides a free comprehensive step-by-step management systems manual.

"By putting in place an Emprove Energy Management Programme, high energy users are going to achieve immediate cost savings and better insulate themselves from future energy issues, such as price rises," says Heather Staley.

For information on Emprove businesses should visit http://www.emprove.org.nz or phone 0800 358 676

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