As the world faces its second sharp energy price spike this decade, more than 100 leading international companies are mitigating this cost shock through their energy efficiency investments. Companies including Siemens, Danfoss and AstraZeneca are reporting US$183 million in saved energy costs last year thanks to energy efficiency improvements at their sites.
Members of Climate Group’s Smart Energy Coalition reported these savings in the campaign’s latest annual report, published today. Last year alone, members collectively cut 60 million metric tonnes of CO₂e, equivalent to the electricity consumed by 12.5 million homes in the US. The Coalition’s members also achieved an average 8.6% annual energy efficiency improvement last year – far surpassing average global energy efficiency progress of 1-2% per year.
With energy uncertainty biting and the roll out of new data centres expected to vastly increase energy demand by 2030, Coalition members have saved 1,560TWh of energy to date by working more efficiently, which is more than the total annual electricity use of Japan and the Republic of Korea in 2024. This adds up to US$1.7 billion in total cost savings to date by Smart Energy Coalition members (previously known as EP100).
Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group, said, “Energy security is now front of mind for governments and businesses around the world. Those investing in energy efficiency are cutting costs and protecting themselves against volatile price spikes. To drive further progress, policymakers must work with ambitious companies, like those in the Smart Energy Coalition, to incentivise deep energy efficiency improvements.”
Sara Vad Sørensen, VP, Head of Public Affairs, Danfoss, member of the Smart Energy Coalition, said, “This moment calls for both urgency and foresight. Resource efficiency must become a non-negotiable principle of data centre operations, and we must plan for data centres to serve as essential partners in a flexible, efficient, and resilient energy system.”
Nicola Cullen, Senior Manager, Energy, Climate Group, said, “In uncertain times, our members prove that energy strategy is business strategy. If all businesses prioritise energy efficiency to the same degree as the leading companies in our Smart Energy Coalition, billions of dollars’ worth of energy could be saved each year. It can also improve security by reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports and help to shape the energy future we want.”
The annual report, Accelerate efficiency: Meeting rising demand with smarter energy, demonstrates how companies are not only slashing emissions and costs but also helping to stabilise energy systems stretched by rising demand from new digital infrastructure.
