The energy balance is a document that analyses the energy flows in a system, which can be a company, a building or an industrial process, and makes it possible to identify waste, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement in energy use. For obliged companies and organisations, it represents an opportunity to reduce costs, improve competitiveness and contribute to environmental protection.

Who is obliged?

In Italy, the main legislation regulating the energy balance is Law 10/1991. According to this law, the obligation mainly concerns:

  • Large Enterprises: companies with an annual turnover of more than EUR 43 million and an annual budget of more than EUR 50 million.
  • Energy-intensive companies: companies that consume large amounts of energy, above certain thresholds defined according to the type of energy used (electricity or heat). A company is considered energy-hungry if the ratio of energy cost to turnover is more than 3%.
  • Public Administration bodies: they are obliged to appoint an Energy Manager and draw up an energy diagnosis.

What is the obligation?

The obligation is mainly translated into the preparation of an energy diagnosis. This must be carried out by a qualified professional (Energy Manager or Energy Auditor) and must include:

  • Energy consumption analysis: quantification of consumption for different energy sources and for different company areas/processes.
  • Identification of waste: identification of inefficiencies and opportunities for energy savings.
  • Proposal of improvement measures: definition of concrete measures to reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency.

Why is the energy balance important?

In addition to fulfilling a legal obligation, drawing up an energy balance offers several advantages:

  • Cost reduction: by identifying waste and implementing energy efficiency measures, energy expenditure can be significantly reduced.
  • Improved competitiveness: an energy-efficient company is more competitive on the market.
  • Reduced environmental impact: lower energy consumption translates into reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less impact on the environment.
  • Access to incentives: energy diagnosis is often a requirement for accessing incentives and funding for energy efficiency.

Sources: mite.gov.it, enea.it, fire-italia.it