UK businesses are not taking energy management seriously enough, according to a report published earlier this week by Siemens.

According to the Siemens Green League report, a third of those responsible for energy management in the 600 businesses canvassed for opinion say their organisation is not giving the issue due weight. But 83% of board directors say that their organisation is committed to energy management.

But although directors say they are serious about energy management, 27% did not know their annual energy costs and 18% did not know what they would be investing in energy management over the next three years.

Nearly 10% of board directors still say they cannot afford to invest in energy efficiency, with a third blaming a perceived lack of return on investment as an obstacle to taking action.

“These results do give cause for concern,” says Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens Industry Sector in the UK and Ireland. “Not only is the UK subject to strict legislative carbon reduction targets, but many businesses are neglecting the impact that effective energy management can have on the bottom line.”

With energy prices high and looking set to stay that way, Maier argues that it is the interests of all businesses to take energy management seriously.

But a reasonably healthy 70% of executives are planning energy efficiency investments over the next three years, most notably in the food and automotive manufacturing sectors.

For further information:
www.siemens.co.uk

Related stories:
UK government and business must work together on resource efficiency, says CBI (13-Dec 2011)
Asda’s sustainability strategy will save £800 million by 2020 (18-Nov 2011)
Business unaware of incentives for energy saving, says report (14-Oct 2011)
Business executives not doing enough on energy efficiency, says survey (21-Mar 2011)