·          With rising fuel prices there is a need for small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) to have access to independent energy efficiency advice and training in order to reduce costs to help maintain their competitiveness.

·          The project involves supporting small/medium businesses to use automatic detailed monitoring and targeting technology (intelligent metering).

·          The detailed metering will be established for a range of business types and sizes in the small/ medium business sector and the resulting detailed energy and water use data will be analysed to identify energy saving opportunities.

·          This information will help with providing energy awareness training to staff of the business, and in providing any on site energy survey. It is intended that the training will form part of certified training programme, and the training will give staff the ability to continue to analyse the data themselves beyond the duration of the project.

Objectives and main steps

·          The project aims to demonstrate the potential for energy savings from automatic intelligent metering and to increase the uptake of intelligent metering in small and medium sized businesses.

·          The project's objectives are to automatically monitor energy (electricity, gas, heat, etc.) and water data in 75-100 SMEs from a range of sectors (manufacturing, commercial, etc.) in 5 different European countries.

·          It is intended to identify energy saving opportunities from the intelligent metering data, and to investigate the savings potential from using intelligent metering in SMEs.

·          A bureau service is to be provided to the SMEs.

·          It is intended to train and raise awareness of the employees of the businesses with the help of the detailed monitoring information and high quality visual materials.

Expected results

 Anticipated results include:

·          Automatically monitor energy (electricity, gas, heat, etc.) and water data in 75-100 small/medium businesses (SMEs) from a range of sectors (manufacturing, commercial, etc.) in 5 different European countries.

·          Average energy and CO2 savings of about 10-25% in 75-100 SMEs.

·          Ability of businesses to analyse and use energy data.

·          SME building users trained in energy efficiency with relevance to their own building.

·          Increased take up of intelligent metering in small/medium sized businesses and community groups.

·          Increased awareness by SMEs of automatic intelligent metering, its applications, benefits and its potential for savings.