The Sustainable Energy & Water Conservation Unit has hosted a seminar during which the obligations and opportunities arising out of the Energy Efficiency Directive were explained by the technical team to Non-SMEs. The seminar is one of a series of initiatives by the unit to promote energy efficiency in the business community.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, the Minister for Energy and Health Konrad Mizzi said that despite being an EU requirement with which large businesses have to comply, the Energy Efficiency Directive, coupled with the utility tariff reductions to be implemented as of March 2015, have to be seen as an opportunity for further energy costs reductions. The energy audits that large businesses have to undertake are a first step to assess the measures that need to be carried out so that Malta reaches its targets.

He said that the Ministry for Energy has been working on promoting and implementing measures that would provide Malta with cleaner energy thereby resulting in fewer pollutants and lower energy costs.

Minister Mizzi commended the various energy efficiency initiatives that have been undertaken by businesses which reduce the amount of energy generated, and stated that the Unit will be assisting the business community in its undertakings to honour the obligations of the Energy Efficiency Directive.

The seminar discussed the harmonisation of energy audits and explored that various energy efficiency technologies available on the market.