Suffered or chosen, energy sobriety is currently present at all stages of decision-making in the company. The explosion in energy prices is bringing the slogan of doing more with less back into fashion. Not surprisingly, optimization leads the company toward profitability. In a context marked by the acceleration of climate change and a more than agitated global geopolitics, sobriety is adorned with virtues. Exit the straitjacket, welcome to this new stage of optimization. Update with Bertrand Coupet, specialist in low carbon strategies.
Adopting an energy sobriety approach presents a strategic advantage for the company.
Faced with climate change, first of all. Indeed, injunctions from customers and clients are urging companies to reduce their CO emissions.2 and their energy consumption. But the sustainability of businesses is also at stake. Committing to the sustainability of your economic model means giving yourself the best chance of surviving a halving of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, as planned by the Paris agreement.
Then, because the outlook for energy purchases in the short and medium term – oil and gas – does not invite optimism. The main players themselves are announcing global reductions in oil availability of 10 % for 2025. As for gas, supply in Europe is moving towards liquefied natural gas. A highly coveted resource!
Let's add to this equation, inflation, the shortage of raw materials and supply chain disruptions... So many elements that are reshuffling the cards of profitability, availability and product design.
We are therefore changing the paradigm: sobriety no longer appears only as an effort, or even a regression, but as an opportunity. So how can companies integrate it sustainably into their strategy?
Different kinds of sobriety: how to apply them?
Energy efficiency
The company maintains the level of service provided by reducing its energy needs.
This is generally a solution that is preferred because it does not result in operational changes. Reducing energy consumption is achieved by changing the means of production using this energy.
Examples:
- Buy a new, more efficient machine
- Insulate buildings to save energy in the long term
- Change the heating method
- Replace thermal engine vehicles with electric vehicles
- Move to buildings better suited to needs
Opting for greater energy efficiency requires a strong investment capacity. But businesses can benefit from state subsidies.
Consumption sobriety
The idea is to make products last longer, whether they are purchased by the company or manufactured and sold to customers. In other words, the objective is to replace them less often or to buy them second-hand. Indeed, a reconditioned high tech device represents 80 % of CO emissions2 less compared to a new device.
This also involves questioning the right need to optimize the object for its use.
Examples:
- Not everyone needs the latest ultra-powerful computer
- A rotation of equipment can be carried out in the company to adjust to user needs
Energy sobriety
The company reduces the service provided.
The most effective solution for reducing consumption, it is also the most demanding to implement. It actually requires renunciations and changes in behavior. Reduce the number of deliveries, turn down the heating, reduce plane journeys in favor of trains…
At stake ? Big financial and ecological gains for organizations capable of challenging their usual way of working. Because lowering the heating by 1°C means reducing your energy bill by 7 %. And every mile not driven saves about 10 cents on gas.
In addition, the return on investment is immediate because no investment is necessary.
Sobriety: concretely, where to start?
No improvement without measure! Here are the first actions to take to enter the process.
Please note: each action will result in a short, medium and long term company transformation plan.
Carry out a carbon assessment and its associated low carbon strategy
The carbon footprint lists greenhouse gas emissions from the entire company value chain: from mining to waste management. Thanks to this inventory, the company becomes aware of its “dependencies” which represent all the weaknesses of its economic model. It also visualizes solutions to adapt to future global challenges.
The carbon footprint also makes it possible to create new indicators to manage long-term sobriety which will also result in decarbonization of the company. A Diag Décarbon'Action subsidy from Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, will cover a majority of the costs linked to this service.
Example:
Following its carbon footprint carried out with BEE IMPACT, a brewer realizes that packaging represents 50 % of the carbon footprint of his product. It then reorients part of the packaging of its production. He swaps the glass bottle for the aluminum can. From an energy and carbon point of view, several advantages. First, manufacturing aluminum requires less energy than glass. Then, the cans are lighter and more practical to package, hence optimizing transport. Furthermore, the can is just as recyclable as the single-use glass bottle. Finally, the production cost of cans is increasing less quickly than that of glass. The brewer wins on all counts!
Implement flow micromanagement
The company can also implement micromanagement of material, energy, waste and fluid flows with the Diag Ecoflux subsidized by Bpifrance. Thanks to a precise analysis of flows, it is possible to carry out an action plan with a rapid return on investment (in a few months).
For example:
Reducing processing waste has multiple effects. This makes it possible to reduce or even eliminate:
- The cost of waste treatment
- Energy unnecessarily used to transform products that will end up thrown away
- Purchases of materials, also thrown
- The administration of all these useless actions
The economic gain therefore far exceeds the savings linked to the reduction in the cost of waste treatment.
Adopt an ISO 50001 approach to energy management
This approach requires prior knowledge of energy consumption in the company and process optimization already in place. Its internal implementation can be facilitated by training Understanding best practice in energy management systems.
Reflect on the company’s purpose and economic model
This is an essential step for anyone considering a future for their business in a world constrained in resources and energy.
For example: in terms of commercial strategy, it would be a question of favoring local development and eliminating human and material movements to distant customers.
Implement the functionality economy and eco-design of products
The idea is to optimize the service provided and the material needed to design the products.
Transforming a sold product into a rental service changes the angle of attack in certain markets. The added value of the company then shifts from the sale of a product to the sale of a service linked to the product. As a result, the number of products produced could decrease. Companies taking this route will also need to take a closer look at product sustainability.
Raise awareness among employees
Finally, it is essential to raise employee awareness of the company's issues and strategy to obtain the support of as many people as possible for sobriety measures. Indeed, turning down the heating, switching to electric cars or encouraging carpooling can cause dissatisfaction. Education and emulation through games or competitions will strengthen team spirit around the company's sobriety objectives.
Climate emergency, on the one hand. End of the illusion of energy available in abundance and at low cost, on the other hand. Sobriety appears to be a credible lever for responding to economic and environmental challenges. On the business side, integrating sobriety in a sustainable way into its strategy means gaining a substantial advantage over the competition. Cost optimization, risk management or even brand image development: sobriety is a winning strategy on many levels. On the planet side, according to the IPCC, it could even make it possible to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 70 % by 2050. Enough to achieve carbon neutrality?
