Review of ESMT Rio+20 Lunch September
On September 29, 2011, ESMT in Berlin greeted around 50 guests on campus for the Rio+20 Lunch to discuss the question “Energy efficiency: Which intelligent composite of tools do we need?” As moderator, ESMT faculty member Christoph Burger introduced the four panelists Tobias Krug, WWF Germany; Barabara Schlomann, Coordinator of Business Unit Energy Efficiency at Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI; Dr. Jürgen Joseph, Energy Consulting GmbH and Dr. Eberhard von Rottenburg, Department of Energy and Raw Material at BDI.
First, Barbara Schlomann presented new Fraunhofer Institute research results on energy efficiency. She concluded with possible savings and pointed in the direction of industry efficiency, especially industrial cross-sectional technologies such as engines. Dr. Jürgen Joseph showed the audience the economical view of energy efficiency as companies cannot decide on investments to improve their energy efficiency apart from their margins.
Tobias Krug of WWF placed a special focus on buildings which have a high impact on energy efficiency. He said that the tools for gathering better energy efficiency need to be adapted in different branches, and he sees a lot of action that needs to be taken by industry. Dr. Eberhard von Rottenburg modified that point of view and explained that Germany is already now on a very high level of efficiency in comparison to Europe or worldwide. He pointed out that industry – simply for the reason to cut costs - permanently improves its efficiency and that companies know best when and how to do that.
The panelists discussed the role of industry and politics in regard to improving German and European energy efficiency. The current tools alone are not efficient enough; they need to be combined and adapted. In the end a holistic view on regulative law, emission trading, tax incentives, information, support, and other actions is needed as is the collaboration between industry, politics, network operators, and the public.
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