Who We Are and What We Do

Energieinstitut der Wirtschaft GmbH (Energy Institute for Business, abbreviated: EIW) was founded in April 2008 as a not-for-profit limited company. It acts as a catalyst and platform for activities in the fields of energy and climate protection, and complements the existing offer of organisations and initiatives working on related topics, with a special view to the needs of Austrian businesses.

We aim at creating a close co-operation with representatives of the business world, academia and public authorities, in order to support Austrian businesses, and especially small and medium sized ones, to step up their implementation of climate protection measures on the one hand, and on the other hand, help businesses capitalise on market chances as suppliers of products, technologies and services to improve energy efficiency.

By gathering and disseminating information that is relevant to the daily work of business people we raise awareness of the economical and ecological advantages of a responsible use of energy resources, and of the different options that exist to make improvements.

We also promote the development of standards for energy consultancy to be applied throughout Austria and co-ordinate a network of energy consultants specialised on SMEs.

The owners of the EIW are representatives of interest groups in industry and business: the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Federation of Austrian Industries, the Association of Retailers in Electric and Electronic Appliances, the Association of the Austrian Electrical and Electronics Industries, and the Working Group for Sustainability in Drinks Packaging.

Currently, the EIW has four employees and also works with several free-lance experts for specific projects and co-operates with a numerous partners from both the business world and academia.

Examples of projects (concluded and ongoing)

The EIW, together with partners, has initiated and/or is involved in several projects dealing with research on as well as practical implementation of energy efficiency and climate protection measures, such as...

• Supporting the Working Group for Sustainability in Drinks Packaging (ARGE Nachhaltigkeit für Getränkeverpackungen) with the implementation of their sustainability agenda.
• TRAENER: Dissemination of results from innovative R&D projects funded by the programme Factory of the Future (Fabrik der Zukunft) of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology. In co-operation with energieautark consulting GmbH.
• Study on the subsidies available to SMEs in Austria for energy consultancy and energy savings measures, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economy.
• Study on fundamental data and level of knowledge on energy efficiency in Austrian SMEs, commissioned by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, the Federal Economic Chamber and the Economic Chamber of Vienna. 
• CHANGE – Chambers Promoting Intelligent Energy for SMEs: Capacity building project to enhance Chambers’ activities informing and supporting SMEs with regard to energy efficiency, co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.
• Climate protection, economic growth, and employment through renovation of residential buildings: Analysis of barriers related to the legal framework and the taxation and subsidy systems, which obstruct the acceleration of renovation. In co-operation with Umwelt Management Austria.
• Survey on energy consumption in the service sector, commissioned by Klima- und Energiefonds, E-Control GmbH, and the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Environment. In co-operation with Statistik Austria, e7 Energie Markt Analyse GmbH, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik.
• Initiative to increase energy efficiency in SMEs („KMU-Initiative zur Energieeffizienzsteigerung“)
  o Preparation and co-ordination of the programme, in which the Klima- und Energiefonds subsidises the cost of an initial energy audit carried out by an energy consultant as well as consulting on the implementation of energy efficiency measures for small and medium sized enterprises.
  o Studies based on the results of the programme: “Energy efficiency indicators and benchmarks for 10 business sectors”, „Factors that influence business motivation to take energy efficiency measures”, and “A market for tradable certificates to promote energy efficiency investments in SMEs
  commissioned by Klima- und Energiefonds.
• IRENA – International Renewable Energy Agency: Support during the initial implementation stages, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economy, Family and Youth, the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation, and Technology and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.