Although many energy professionals are using these terms interchangeably, Demand Response (DR) and Demand-Side Management (DSM) are not the same thing.

However, they can definitely complement one another to help ESCOs deliver more successful, complete and effective energy management services. Advanced flexibility solutions like demand response also offer benefits beyond cost savings that typically come from energy efficiency alone.

Our latest free-to-download guide was created for energy professionals that are looking to incorporate advanced demand-side management applications and demand response into their service offering.

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If you are working for an SME in the UK, I have some good news for you! The Carbon Trust is providing small and medium businesses up to £10,000 to install energy saving technology, including renewables, new energy-saving equipment and behind the meter batteries.

The funding mechanism is called The Green Business Fund, which will offer direct financial support through energy assessments, workshops, procurement support and up to £10k capital (or up to 30% of the purchase cost) per SME towards purchasing equipment to save energy.

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Does your business need its own energy manager?

Should you rely on internal resources to start your energy management journey?

Or seek external assistance from an ESCO, especially for financing help? (If you don’t even know where to begin looking for money, check this previous post on funding resources for energy efficiency projects).

For a quick overview about what energy managers do, what professional skills to look for and how energy management in general might fit into your business model, no matter what your company does, check out this infographic:

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Of all commercial buildings, restaurants use the highest amount of energy per square metre. In fact, UK Power and the Family Hospitality Group estimate that anywhere between 5 to 15% of a restaurant’s total expenditure can be taken up by energy alone!

Considering that the average profit margin of a full-service restaurant is usually less than 10% of gross revenue – energy consumption suddenly becomes a BIG financial concern.

In keeping with our industry focus series, where we have previously talked about energy management in hotels, supermarkets, and office buildings, this article spotlights how restaurants can work on bringing down their energy costs.

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Energy efficiency and savings for SMEs sounds nice on paper, but can be much more complicated in practice. Only 5 years ago nearly 40% of European SMEs (more than 7.5 million companies) had not implemented any energy saving or efficiency actions whatsoever.

With the European Commission’s Winter Package proposal for a 30% energy efficiency target by 2030, energy audits targeting SMEs could unlock incredible energy savings potential in Europe. Unfortunately, due to their small size, sectoral variation, and low returns per customer, ESCOs have a particularly difficult time reaching the SME market in order to reach these targets. Yet, if SMEs implemented energy efficiency measures to their full potential, they could shave more than 20% off their energy bills. And that is something SMEs in Europe and beyond simply can’t afford NOT to do.

Most importantly, SMEs have very specific needs when it comes to energy efficiency. ESCOs need to do a better job of recognising and addressing these pain points. To help with that, here is a list of the top energy efficiency challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises:

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With most of us celebrating the arrival of spring, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look back at the European Union Winter Package and how the changes will affect the everyday work of energy professionals in the short and medium term.

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As of 1st April 2017, the English water retail market will open up for businesses, charities and public sector bodies. It will be the biggest retail market for water services in the world. Plus, what better moment than World Water Day to understand what the UK water market deregulation is all about?

Most importantly – how can your ESCO leverage the opportunities hidden within these regulatory changes?

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