A new global initiative has been launched to support the growth of energy efficiency among the world’s biggest companies, who are pledging to double their energy productivity and maximise economic output.
The EP100 was officially launched yesterday at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global) in Washington D.C by the We Mean Business coalition, and the programme will be led by RE100 leader The Climate Group.
Unlike the RE100, which supports the growth of renewable energy, EP100 aims to promote energy efficiency as the ‘first fuel’ of any business activity. The concept is described as ‘getting more economic output from each unit of energy’, effectively maximising each unit of energy for greater economic output.
Rachel Kyte, chief executive of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), special representative of the UN secretary-general for sustainable Energy for All and EP100 executive committee member,said: “Energy productivity is a critical component of our new energy future. Less than six months after the Paris Agreement, leading businesses are continuing to take the ambitious climate action the economy needs.
“By publicly committing to double their energy productivity, these global companies are seizing the clear potential to cut energy costs, enhance profitability and avoid fluctuating energy shocks. EP100 is a step forward for bold business action – while setting us on course to achieve the world’s shared goals of sustainable, efficient energy for all.”
The EP100 campaign welcomed its latest member companies, Johnson Controls, which already focuses part of its business on building efficiency, and polymer manufacturer Covestro. Both have pledged to double their energy productivity by 2030 from baseline years of 2009 and 2005 respectively.
Clay Nesler, vice president of corporate sustainability for Johnson Controls, said: “We are pleased to join with other leading global companies in making a commitment to double our energy productivity by 2030 as part of EP100.
“Energy efficiency improvements have been a key element of our sustainability program since 2003 contributing to a 41% greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction and over $100M in annual energy savings.”
The two firms join tractor manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra, which became the first partner company of EP100 last month when it pledged to double energy productivity by 2030 on a baseline of 2008-2009.
Speaking at EE Global, chief executive of The Climate Group, Mark Kenber, said: “If we are to make headway on a sustainable emissions curve towards net-zero, the first step for businesses needs to be improving their energy productivity – and these leading global businesses are already seizing this opportunity.
“Doing more with less improves business performance and grows an energy-productive economy – one that enables and rewards low carbon initiative. They know it makes good business sense and will enable them to reap the economic rewards in the new era of a clean economy.”
The Climate Group says improving energy productivity nationwide represents strong economic value and potential for job creation, adding that if energy productivity is doubled by 2030 in just the USE, $327 billion could be saved annually in energy costs as well as adding 1.3 million jobs.
The new initiative will be seeking to emulate the success of the RE100, which has attracted huge multi-national brands to the renewable energy cause. Speaking earlier this month at the Clean Energy Summit, Mark Kenber predicted that the number of firms pledging to source 100% of their electricity demand from renewables – currently 58 – is expected to double by the end of the year.
