Companies can gain a long-term competitive advantage by investing in energy efficiency. Numerous subsidy programmes in Germany help to reduce investment costs. The most common subsidies take the form of grants, favourable loans and support, e.g. for energy consulting, applications for subsidies or expert support for investment measures.

Energy efficiency is an absolute megatrend; it is fuelled by rising energy costs, public climate debates and political impetus (legislation, EU Energy Efficiency Directive, etc.).

Further information can be found in the "Energy efficiency in the skilled trades" guide at https://www.energieeffizienz-handwerk.de/, which was made available by the "SME initiative for the energy transition and climate protection - regional workshops for handicraft trades funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy".

Examples (2019, Germany)

• Credit Institute for Reconstruction (KfW)
• Energy efficiency programme for production facilities/processes for new investments and modernisations in Germany and abroad
• Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA)
• Subsidised energy consulting to improve energy efficiency in companies