Six in ten firms that completed an Esos assessment have taken action, according to initial survey data compiled by The Energyst. But few of them want energy efficiency advice from energy suppliers or TPIs.
According to the survey, 61% of organisations mandated to undertake an energy audit under the Energy Savings Obligation Scheme (Esos) said they had taken subsequent actions. A similar percentage (60%) said the Esos exercise had been worthwhile, although 40% said it was not.
Some 64% said that their Esos audit had been thorough and suggested multiple energy efficiency improvements. However, despite Esos requiring directors to sign off the audit, around six in ten (58%) said board level engagement in energy efficiency had not increased as a result.
The Energyst is seeking end-user views on Esos – and the effectiveness of energy efficiency regulations in general – as part of a forthcoming report sponsored by E.ON.
While the sample remains small (73 complete surveys to date, of which 39 undertook the Esos assessment), the early findings provide a snapshot of the state of energy efficiency within both large and small organisations.
The data also suggests end-users place greater faith in independent consultants and industry associations/non profit bodies than energy suppliers or third party intermediaries (TPI) when it comes to energy efficiency advice.
Only 3% of respondents said they would prefer to receive that advice from a TPI, and only 13% want it from an energy supplier. That compares to 46% who would like any energy efficiency advice to come from an independent consultant and 56% who would prefer it to come from an association or non-commercial organisation. (Total percentages do not reach 100% due to multiple-choice answers.)
Meanwhile, it appears suppliers have been more proactive than TPIs in engaging end-users. Only 12% of respondents said their TPI had engaged them regarding energy efficiency services versus 26% of respondents with whom energy suppliers have engaged. Overall 62% of respondents said they had been engaged by neither their energy supplier nor TPI regarding energy efficiency.
Overall, 48% of respondents said they buy energy through a TPI while 52% go directly to the supplier.
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