ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDIT COSTS AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS

Abstract

Environmental problems, such as environmental pollution, waste management, air quality problems, the extraction and regeneration of natural resources and others, have been among the top issues in European countries for decades. Policies, laws, projects, and plans are being developed to address and improve environmental issues, but their results are not as effective as planned. In accordance with the Energy Efficiency Law (and its binding laws and regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers), large companies and large energy consumers carry out rational use and management of energy resources to promote sustainable economic development and limit climate change, implementing an Energy Management System in a company (according to the ISO 50001 standard), an Environmental Management System (according to ISO 14001, which also includes an energy management system) or performing an Energy Audit. In recent years, more and more companies are choosing to carry out energy audits, as this provides them with additional information and insights from third parties on their energy consumption and possible improvements. However, it is necessary to evaluate the costs and the benefits of energy audits.