Energy Efficiency Management in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Current Situation, Case Studies and Best Practices

Stavros Gennitsaris, Miguel Castro Oliveira, George Vris, Antonis Bofilios, Theodora Ntinou, Ana Rita Frutuoso, Catarina Queiroga, John Giannatsis, Stella Sofianopoulou and Vassilis Dedoussis ()
Additional contact information
Stavros Gennitsaris: Department of Industrial Management & Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Miguel Castro Oliveira: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 2740-120 Lisbon, Portugal
George Vris: Sigma Business Network, 14565 Agios Stefanos, Greece
Antonis Bofilios: Sigma Business Network, 14565 Agios Stefanos, Greece
Theodora Ntinou: Sigma Business Network, 14565 Agios Stefanos, Greece
Ana Rita Frutuoso: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 2740-120 Lisbon, Portugal
Catarina Queiroga: Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, 2740-120 Lisbon, Portugal
John Giannatsis: Department of Industrial Management & Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Stella Sofianopoulou: Department of Industrial Management & Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Vassilis Dedoussis: Department of Industrial Management & Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-26

Abstract: Energy efficiency is a key factor to meet the ambitious climate targets of the European Union (EU) aligned with the international policy directives. On their own, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) do not consume big amounts of energy, but taking into consideration that they represent about 99% of businesses worldwide, their cumulative energy consumption is remarkable. Even though SMEs experience several barriers in their effort to improve their energy efficiency, their contribution to the EU’s energy efficiency improvement targets is crucial through the implementation of measures to improve their energy footprint. The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of SMEs’ energy efficiency and energy footprint management, which has been carried out in the context of the “SMEnergy—Energy Footprint Management for SMEs” EU-funded Erasmus+ project. The correlation between energy conversion and consumption processes and energy efficiency, as well as the current situation of energy footprint management and energy management systems in SMEs, are discussed in detail. Moreover, successful case studies of SMEs that have implemented specific measures to improve their energy footprint and achieve energy efficiency targets are also included. It is highlighted that SMEs exhibit a high potential for energy efficiency enhancement that could directly promote climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); energy efficiency; energy footprint; energy management; energy consumption; international standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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