Increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs

EnAW (the Energy Agency of the Swiss Private Sector) helps Swiss companies to implement their climate protection measures. As part of its “Energy Checkup”, a hundred regional advisors support companies with individual solutions to help them to increase their energy and resource efficiency, reduce their CO² footprint and ultimately cut costs.  

The partnership between UBS and EnAW provides SMEs with long-term solutions for harnessing their energy-saving potential, reducing CO² emissions and becoming more cost-efficient at the same time.

EnAW membership is a prerequisite for obtaining support from the Energy Agency of the Swiss Private Sector. After registration, the company is assigned an experienced engineer from the EnAW pool of experts who will carry out the Energy Checkup and offer assistance with the transformation.

The first step is a site inspection to determine the current energy status of the company. All the energy data required to determine and assess the reduction potential is recorded. Based on this evaluation, the company then receives a list of possible measures and recommendations tailored to its needs in order to reduce CO² emissions and increase energy efficiency. 

A distinction is made between economic and non-economic measures. “Economic” measures include measures where investments in the process and production area are amortized within a maximum of four years and in the building services and infrastructure area within a maximum of eight years. Measures that only pay off after a longer period of time and are therefore considered “non-economic” can be implemented via funding programs.

The next step is to formulate a target agreement that defines how the company intends to achieve its objectives. Annual monitoring indicates whether the company is on target with its energy-saving measures. If it has met the agreed objectives, it is awarded the EnAW label.

Companies that want to save costs and resources via EnAW membership and with the help of its Energy Checkup can obtain financial support from UBS. UBS bears the cost of 50% of the first annual membership fee on a one-off basis, i.e. the equivalent of up to CHF 4,000.

In addition, UBS helps companies of all sizes to make energy-efficient investments to reduce CO² emissions and lower their energy consumption. Furthermore, it offers sustainable leasing solutions to make vehicle fleets more environmentally friendly. Companies can also use the esg2go online tool. This allows them to create an automated sustainability report in just a few steps.

Companies play a decisive role in the implementation of the Swiss energy transition. This is also increasingly true for SMEs. Efficient use of resources is worthwhile for companies quite simply because it reduces the impact of constantly rising prices for electricity, gas and petrol. If energy expenditure falls, the financial resources freed up as a result can be invested in short and long-term sustainability measures. For example in waste management, operational mobility or digitalization.

New opportunities thanks to the conscious use of materials

Consuming fewer materials and making more conscious use of materials conserves resources and makes companies less susceptible to fluctuations on the markets for raw materials. Using innovative technologies and optimizing processes streamlines workflows and increases productivity. But not only that: Efforts to improve sustainability are increasingly becoming a competitive advantage, as both consumers and business customers or suppliers expect companies to act in an environmentally conscious and socially responsible manner. Companies who recognize this potential and can offer suitable products or services are able to open up new market opportunities and target groups.

Trust through environmental awareness

A positive environmental image has many advantages: Customers are more likely to trust the company and remain loyal to it for longer. It increases the attractiveness of the company as an employer for current and future employees. Sustainable corporate management allows a company not only to reduce its ecological footprint, but also to establish itself as a successful and responsible player in society in the long term.

SMEs make up a significant proportion of the Swiss economy, but are a long way behind when it comes to sustainability.

Various consulting and funding programs are offered by the federal government, municipalities and cantons, as well as by individual industry associations, to help SMEs to identify and subsequently implement suitable measures. In addition to the EnAW services already mentioned and the online tool esg2go, a sustainability guide for SMEs is available from the Swiss Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen, and the federal government provides an Agenda 2030 toolbox. SMEs can use the CO² calculator from la Mobilière to calculate their emissions and find out how to reduce them.

SMEs that want to invest specifically in renewable energies can take advantage of government funding programs. Information on subsidies and tax breaks is available from EnergieSchweiz, the Federal Council’s program in support of measures for greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. The Energiefranken page (available in German, French or Italian) lists funding programs by canton, for example for financing more energy-efficient buildings or vehicles. Information on the federal government’s support for sustainable development can be found on the Agenda 2030 website.

There are many ways for small and medium-sized companies to become more environmentally sustainable. It is crucial that these practices become part of their operational processes. This also generally improves the efficiency of existing work processes.

Sustainable management must not be seen as a one-off project. It is a continuous process that must be embedded in fixed procedures, monitoring structures and improvement cycles. This type of approach begins with an analysis of the current situation – for example via an energy consultation like the one available via the Swiss program PEIK , which can help companies save 10 to 15% of their energy costs. According to EnergieSchweiz, the savings potential in companies is as high as 20 to 40%, depending on the sector. This analysis should be followed by the implementation of suitable measures and the introduction of a recurring review and optimization cycle in order to permanently harness efficiency potential.

In order to be successful in the long term, sustainability must be an integral part of the corporate strategy: Lower energy and resource consumption enables better cost control, the use of new technologies and processes promotes innovation, and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) can be established within the company by means of sustainable action.

In addition, a sustainable focus strengthens financing options. More and more investors and financial institutions are demanding proof of environmental and social performance. This means that SMEs with clear sustainability and energy efficiency targets improve their competitiveness and creditworthiness. This strategic depth makes energy efficiency not only a means of reducing costs and emissions, but also a success factor that ensures long-term resilience, innovative strength and attractiveness for investors.