Energy transition in medium-sized businesses: How to secure your future now!

Energy transition in medium-sized businesses: How to secure your future now!

Rising energy prices and growing sustainability requirements mean that medium-sized companies are increasingly focusing on holistic energy concepts. This reports NNZ Online. Strategically planned energy efficiency is seen as crucial to reducing costs and being future-proof. The market for energy services is currently developing rapidly, both technologically and regulatoryally.

Regional providers in particular play an important role in this context because they know the local conditions and can develop tailor-made solutions. In the manufacturing industry, logistics and crafts, energy is increasingly viewed as a strategic competitive factor. Energy consumption often represents a significant portion of the total costs, which is why potential savings in organizational details or small technical adjustments are often not sufficiently utilized.

Efficiency improvement measures

Typical immediate measures to increase efficiency include:

• Umrüstung auf LED-Beleuchtung mit Präsenzsteuerung
• Wartung und Optimierung bestehender Lüftungsanlagen
• Lastspitzenmanagement bei Maschinenparks

These measures usually pay for themselves within a few months. Continuous energy monitoring is also considered a key to efficiency. Digital meters and cloud-based analysis platforms enable energy consumption to be monitored down to the second.

Transparency in energy consumption helps to identify consumption peaks and identify inefficient systems. In addition, validated consumption data makes it easier to provide evidence for funding applications and sustainability reports. Regional energy consultants play an important role here by providing know-how and contacts to tradespeople, funding agencies and suppliers.

Funding opportunities and support

There are numerous funding programs available in Germany, including the BAFA and KfW funding programs for energy-saving renovations and efficiency measures. Loud BAFA There are comprehensive grants that often remain unused because there is a lack of knowledge or security. Service providers not only support companies in submitting applications, but also in documenting and implementing funding projects.

The funding offer includes, among other things:

• BAFA-Zuschüsse für Energieberatung im Mittelstand
• KfW-Kredite für energieeffiziente Produktionsanlagen
• Kommunale Förderungen für klimaneutrale Gewerbestandorte

Current programs such as the federal funding for efficient buildings (BEG) support the renovation of buildings to save energy costs and protect the climate. This will continue at the beginning of 2025, although certain provisions on provisional budget management must be observed. The BEG includes several sub-programs, including BEG WG for residential buildings and BEG NWG for non-residential buildings.

The application is submitted online via the BAFA portal. In addition, applications for individual measures on the building envelope and system technology are processed at BAFA. For some measures, it is necessary to involve an energy efficiency expert who carries out specialist energy planning and construction supervision.

The energy transition is perceived not only as an ecological but also as a regional economic factor. Municipalities that attract sustainable companies thereby increase their attractiveness and benefit from the positive effects of sustainable development.