Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is encouraging SMEs to save up to 20 per cent of their costs by availing of its free energy assessment service.

SEI estimates that thousands of Irish SMEs could together generate savings of as much as €200 million by using its service to identify areas for energy efficiency improvements.

Five hundred Irish SMEs have already availed of SEI's Energy Assessments service, identifying potential combined savings of over €25 million. In every single case energy saving opportunities have been identified, often by 20 per cent or even more.

Brian Motherway, Head of Industry, SEI said: "Coming into the winter months, Irish SMEs will be increasingly conscious of their energy costs.

"Energy is becoming central to business competitiveness and the long-term survival of many firms. Hundreds of businesses have already acted to tackle energy use and are reaping the rewards.

"As well as the immediate savings, these firms are also preparing themselves for a future where inefficient over-dependence on expensive fossil fuels will not be an option. SEI's Energy Assessments service helps companies to get started and identify where energy savings opportunities exist."

At last week's launch of the organisation's awareness initiative, Gina Quin, Chief Executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, which has just signed up to avail of SEI's Energy Assessments service, commented: "I hear from businesses daily concerned about their energy costs and wondering what they can do about them. It is clear that there is something firms can do - take action to improve efficiency and reduce energy use. I would encourage all firms to avail of SEI's free services and achieve the savings others have achieved."

Many Irish businesses have already received advice from SEI and identified substantial savings opportunities. These range across a variety of business sectors, including financial services, leisure, retail, hospitality, and dairy and food.

SEI's Energy Assessments service involves specialist energy advisors helping SMEs to assess their energy use, to identify opportunities for savings and to take action to realise these savings.

Participating firms are matched with an expert energy advisor who will talk to them about their particular needs and recommend the best actions for them. SEI does not charge for the assessments, but simply asks that firms make a commitment to following through on the advice they receive.

SEI's current focus on assisting SMEs with energy efficiency follows its significant success in working with large business in Ireland.

Large Irish companies engaged in SEI's energy management programmes recorded energy cost savings of over €40 million in 2007. The 120 top energy-using businesses in Ireland achieved these savings and the resulting bottom line gains through rigorous energy management programmes facilitated by SEI's Energy Agreements Programme and Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN).

Further details on SEI's programmes for business can be viewed on SEI's website www.sei.ie/business.

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