Benchmarking and Energy Management Schemes for SMEs

This website provides results from the IEE project BESS and its subsequent extension through 'Expanding BESS' under the general heading the European website for energy efficiency in Small and Medium Sized Enterpises. It gives access to three on-line facilities: 1. Reasons for implementing energy management; 2) The BESS energy management implementation model (EMIM); 3) Energy management specifications and linking list as well as numerous other energy monitoring and benchmarking functions.

Summary

View the Tool / Methodology [EN - English]

The BESS project (Benchmarking and Energy management Schemes in SMEs) aimed to further develop and promote the widespread application of benchmarking and energy management in order to improve energy efficiency in industrial SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), with particular focus on the food and drink industry. Participants from 11 countries including member countries, 2 accession countries, Bulgaria and Norway combined to achieve this objective, showing  promising results in 60 pilot companies, extending to other member states, other industrial SME sectors and to Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) as well as introducing financial mechanisms to boost energy efficiency investments (involvement of Energy Service Companies, ESCOs) and improved E-learning scheme (user friendliness and multi language upload functions) through the continuatiion project ExBess.

ExBESS recruited additional associations, pilot companies and ESCOs, extended, adapted and improved BESS tools as well as including more national SME monitoring data in the BESS benchmarking scheme. This resulted in a user-friendly SME energy management and benchmarking scheme, tested and in operation in 19 EU (member) states.

The overall result is an operational web based energy management, benchmarking and e-learning scheme, complete with financial mechanisms, validated by the recruited SMEs, associations and ESCOs. The entry to the various tools provided is via a 'dartboard' through which 'one click' leads to topics that fall into four groups: Act, Plan, Check, Do. These link to various 'tools' under headings that include: Energy audits, Best practice, Energy Policy & Regulations,  Energy Management Model, Benchmarking, Meteringand Targeting, Full Energy management Checklist, Review and Corrective Avtions. There is also a drop-down list enabling direct access to some 30 optional tools as well as a general search button.

The site also provides routes to energy efficiency by energy management providing opportunities for SMEs to improve their profits through the following links: 1) Reasons for implementing energy management, 2) The BESS energy management implementation model (EMIM), 3) Energy management specifications and linking list. Companies may also check their current level of energy management with the BESS energy management checklist.

Related Information on the Regions 202020 Website:

• Sustainable Energy Theme(s): Energy Efficiency in Industry : Energy monitoring

Last updated: 08/03/2012 11:04am - Contact: Katy HALL - Email