Impact of Energy Monitoring and Management Systems on the Implementation and Planning of Energy Performance Improved Actions: An Empirical Analysis Based on Energy Audits in Italy

The implementation of monitoring tools and energy management systems (EnMSs) supports
companies in their long-term energy efficiency strategies, and they are essential to analyse
the effectiveness of energy performance improvement actions (EPIAs). The first fundamental step
towards increasing energy efficiency is the development of energy audits (EAs). EAs provide comprehensive
information about the energy usage in a specific facility, identifying and quantifying
cost-effective EPIAs. The crucial role of these tools in clean energy transition is remarked by the
European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which promotes the implementation of EAs and EnMS
programmes. The purpose of this work is to better understand the link between EnMSs (specifically
ISO 50001) and EAs in the EED Article 8 implementation in two industrial and two tertiary
sectors in Italy. Moreover, the impact of company size, energy monitoring systems, and EnMSs on
planned and/or implemented EPIAs is analysed. Our findings show that, albeit the complexity of
the variables involved in energy efficiency gap, the “energy savings/company” and “EPIA/site”
ratios are higher in enterprises with an EnMS and monitoring system. Thus, a correct energy audit
must always be accompanied by a specific monitoring plan if it is to be effective and useful to the
company decision maker.