Abstract:
Ireland is under increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption to meet carbon
emission targets and protect an economy that is almost totally dependant on imported
energy. The implementation of no cost and low cost energy efficiency measures across
all sectors of the Irish economy has significant carbon and cost saving potential. The
Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) is a voluntary network operated by Sustainable
Energy Ireland (SEI) for eighty of the largest energy consumers in the country. The
group accounts for approximately 10% of the state¿s total primary energy requirement
(TPER). The task of implementing energy management practices outside the LIEN poses
a significant challenge given the number of organisations involved, their geographic
distribution and low energy intensity. However supporting these organisations to
become energy efficient is essential if Ireland is to meet energy policy targets. This
paper argues that combining web-based environments with process methodologies can
provide an information systems infrastructure to enable the implementation of energy
efficiency in both private and public sector organisations. The paper proposes a twotier
model; with the first tier utilising a web-based process methodology to guide a
novice energy team through formation, planning and auditing phases. The second tier
would facilitate remote support from energy management experts via the collaborative
environment. The study was undertaken using the approach of doing action research in
your own organisation and the savings and cultural impact from implementing the
model in a pilot study was encouraging.
