The Energy Agency for Industry (EnAW) supports SMEs in Switzerland in the context of SDG 13 in identifying and assessing energy efficiency potential. This applies to the development of individual measures, target agreements with the federal government, reporting and, finally, the achievement of the defined targets. By the end of 2019, more than 4000 companies, which account for about 50 percent of the< CO2 emissions of Swiss industrial and service companies, had signed 2405 target agreements with EnAW. UBS supports its corporate clients in the EnAW energy check-up and in the implementation of measures that help to increase energy efficiency and thus reduce operating costs. Business Sustainability Today spoke to Jacqueline Jakob from EnAW about how Swiss SMEs can contribute to achieving SDG 13.
This article on SDG 13 and SMEs in Switzerland is supported by
Business Sustainability Today:
Ms Jakob, how do you think Switzerland can implement the Energy Strategy 2050 and become climate neutral by that date?Jacqueline Jakob:
Climate neutrality by 2050 is an enormous challenge for society as a whole. It is therefore important to raise everyone’s awareness of this issue, and SMEs in Switzerland can also make a contribution. The earlier you start to deal with it, the more stable your company will be for the future and the better you will be able to secure your competitiveness.Business Sustainability Today:
Where do companies have the most potential to save energy, and which efficiency measures are most effective?Jacqueline Jakob:
Proven approaches for Swiss SMEs in connection with SDG 13 mainly include efficiency improvements, technical improvements, renovations and operational optimization. In addition, one should take a look at the products and consider product substitutions if necessary. This is undoubtedly difficult. In the next step we recommend to rely on renewable energies. A good mix of renewable, CO₂-free and CO₂-neutral energies and the right infrastructure are best suited. Intensive research is also being carried out in this area. Chemistry professor Greta Patzke, for example, is working on the question of how natural photosynthesis can be reconstructed using technical means to generate renewable energy.Business Sustainability Today:
Where is the most energy consumed or lost?Jacqueline Jakob:
In the environment of the EnAW participants, we notice that the greatest potential still exists in process heat. Around 70 percent of fuels in industry are used for process heat. Processes have to be optimised here and made fit for the future. That takes guts.Business Sustainability Today:
Why can small and medium-sized enterprises in particular benefit from EnAW’s energy check?Jacqueline Jakob:
It is understandable that SMEs focus on their core business and not necessarily on energy consumption. These companies therefore often do not have an energy officer and need uncomplicated access to external expertise. The EnAW energy check closes a gap here and has a kind of driving effect: this begins with observation, measurement and evaluation. This in turn sets various dynamic processes in motion. In addition, companies can learn from each other in EnAW exchange and experience groups, and the EnAW also has a good overview of all the funding programmes offered in this area.Business Sustainability Today:
What advice would you give to SMEs that are concerned about operational and financial challenges in particular?Jacqueline Jakob:
Ecological measures must always make economic sense. For example, the combination of a target agreement and the possibility of reimbursement of the incentive tax has now developed into a successful model. More and more companies are realizing that ecological measures also bring economic benefits. Authorities set the target, but firms are given the leeway needed to implement it. The results of 20 years of EnAW with more than 4000 participants show that this approach has proven its worth in terms of the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the measures.
Business Sustainability Today:
Apart from financial savings: Why is it worth investing in energy efficiency?Jacqueline Jakob:
We often experience that the management reacts somewhat critically at the beginning. However, when the process gets underway and benefits are revealed that go beyond the energy sector – in particular a better working atmosphere, product improvements and greater competitiveness – this creates a positive dynamic and also encourages other SMEs to participate. This development is strengthened by the awareness of having already made provisions for rising energy prices and of having the latest and best technologies at their disposal.Business Sustainability Today:
What is your vision for the future, for SDG 13 and SMEs and Switzerland, Ms. Jakob?Jacqueline Jakob:
I envision a largely decarbonized economy with renewable energies that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. And it must be possible to intelligently offset irreducible CO₂ emissions with negative emissions.
In 2019, the CO₂ consumption of participating companies fell by 628,412 tons. According to SWISS’s calculations, this corresponds to some 192,175 flights from Zurich to Auckland (NZ) and back.
In 2019, 3,578,159 megawatt hours of energy were saved by participating businesses, of which 1,471,597 megawatt hours were electricity. The savings correspond to more than 80 percent of the annual final energy consumption of the Canton of Basel-Stadt.
© Photo Jacqueline Jakob: EnAW
17 Ziele für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung
