This is often easier said than done. Many companies struggle with questions like: How can we reduce our energy costs? Is purchased electricity really green if it comes with a guarantee of origin certificate? How is district heating with fossil elements valued, and how is all this accounted for in a way that complies with regulations such as CSRD and VSME?

According to CSRD , companies must report their environmental and climate impact in both qualitative and quantitative terms - including Scope 1, 2 and for the vast majority also Scope 3. This means that your company must keep track of energy as a climate issue, how your energy use affects your direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions. Indirect emissions mean emissions from purchased energy and also emissions arising from electricity consumption further down the value chain. Transparency and traceability are crucial.

After mapping your electricity use, the work to reduce it and ensure you use renewable electricity with a lower carbon footprint begins. Although there is a cost premium for renewable electricity, the savings from energy efficiency measures are often much higher. Here, you can go relatively far with often simple means. Lowering the heating in your office by one degree, or several degrees during weekends and holidays when fewer people are present, can reduce monthly energy consumption by several percentage points.

Other examples of simple energy-saving measures include turning off electronics instead of leaving them on stand-by, installing motion sensors for lights in rooms that are not used very often, reviewing ventilation and sealing windows and doors. In homes, 4-6% of the heat supplied is ventilated away, usually because it feels too hot. In offices, ventilation losses depend more on the ability to open windows. Employee responsibility can play a major role here.

Our recommendation is to switch to energy suppliers that offer actual green electricity with clear traceability, and look into the possibility of installing self-generation to reduce dependence on energy from the market and thus reduce your climate impact. 

Reviewing machinery fleets and looking for vehicles and technologies with lower consumption rates are examples of major measures with great energy-saving potential. We need brave companies to lead the way and take the step into the technological transition.

However, even after these important steps, companies still face issues that can be difficult to address. We live in a reality where there is a lack of traceability in the electricity trading system, as well as uncertainties about which sources are classified as sustainable under the EU taxonomy. Many companies often experience difficulties in collecting the required data, both from properties, suppliers and energy companies.

Part of the solution is to use digital tools for data collection and energy mapping. ZeroMission and EcoOnline together offer a sustainability platform that facilitates reporting and ensures data quality over time.

Our recommendation is also to switch to energy suppliers that offer actual green electricity with clear traceability, and to look into the possibility of installing self-generation (e.g. photovoltaics) to reduce dependence on energy from the market. We also advise working with experts to ensure accurate emission factors and classifications.

Perhaps the most important step is: internal engagement. Through training, you can raise awareness of electricity use and its impact on both profits and the climate, and create the necessary commitment among employees. There are good opportunities here to build internal pride and participation, but also the opportunity for external positioning and to act as an inspirer and pioneer in your industry.

Want to know more? In Almedalen we have a seminar on energy and climate reporting together with EcoOnline.