The Invisible Solution

With so much to gain, why is industrial energy efficiency seemingly overlooked?

One explanation is that industrial energy efficiency is largely an invisible solution. It often comes down to changing people’s behaviours and mindsets. The interventions are usually technical and behind closed doors. Retrofitting the insulation level of pipes, or replacing an old inefficient boiler is not as visible as installing solar powered panels or wind turbines, for example.

Perhaps, most frustratingly, is the lack of action and awareness around what is essentially a cost-effective and win-win solution for everyone involved, especially for companies and industry. Unlike other efforts to mitigate climate change, industrial energy efficiency offers a relatively rapid return on investment.

Can you see it? They can!

Rana Ghoneim

Chief, Energy Systems and Infrastructure Division | UNIDO | Vienna

“Critically, those of us in the development community must move beyond discussing the potential and toward demonstrating this hugely compelling and uncontroversial climate solution.”

Gerswynn Mckuur

Global Cleantech Innovation Programme Coordinator | UNIDO

“When industry moves, their ancillary businesses have to move with them. That’s why industrial companies are in a very influential position to make the significant changes needed to reduce GHG emissions.”

Tareq Emtairah

Director of Energy | UNIDO

“Our experience shows that just by deploying energy management systems in industrial facilities, we can identify and harvest an average of 15 per cent of energy savings without the need for a major investment in technology.”

Khaymar Khine

Executive Director | Devi Daiichi Joint Venture | Myanmar

“In addition to the energy savings achieved with support from UNIDO’s Industrial Energy Efficiency project in Myanmar, we now have so much more peace of mind thanks to the reliable and more consistent cold room temperature achieved through system optimization. This alone is a huge benefit”

Industrial energy efficiency action at global scale

While we wait for the wide-scale development of renewable energy infrastructure, industrial energy efficiency can provide a pathway and an opportunity for companies to reduce their emissions in the here and now. It’s time industry, governments and investors recognize that industrial energy efficiency is central to achieving our 2030 and 2050 sustainable development deadlines. For this green revolution to be achieved, we need leadership from all sides.

Governments need to support policy implementation, mandate efficiency standards, set targets and incentivise best practice.
CEOs need to kick-start a cultural shift in their companies by prioritizing energy efficiency and empowering their teams to become part of the solution.
Critically, those in the international development community must move beyond discussing the potential and toward demonstrating this hugely compelling and uncontroversial climate solution.

Help us make this invisible solution visible!

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Download our free resources: We publish easy to read recommendations, guidelines and factsheets that introduce technical best practice interventions.

Partner with us: We work directly with governments and the private sector. We design energy efficiency solutions, provide policy advice and conduct extensive training programmes for energy managers, auditors and policymakers. Contact our global project manager, Rana Ghoneim (R.Ghoneim@unido.org) to find out more about the Accelerator’s services.