A collaborative guide to help companies reduce their use of energy in five steps

Sweden faces a winter with a very real risk of energy shortages. The electricity prices are soaring to levels that may cause smaller companies to fold, and many are looking for ways to reduce their use of energy. Their question, is this: How do we become more energy efficient without compromising on safety and health? To meet the demand for guidance, The Mälardalen Energy Agency (MEA) has co-developed The Energy Staircase – and paid visits to 110 companies.

MEA developed The Energy Staircase in collaboration with The Energy Evolution Centre and the municipal energy and climate guidance service in Eskilstuna. The guide consists of five steps, ranging from “motivation” and “goals” to “collaboration”, and it is free to use.

“When using our guide, there’s no need for guesswork to become more energy efficient. As companies climb the steps, they get access to useful information, check lists and other helpful tools,” says Jesper Sundling, Project Leader at MEA.

MEA connects companies with energy and climate guidance services

Putting companies in contact with the energy and climate guidance service supplied, free of charge, by Swedish municipalities is an important step of The Energy Staircase.

“Many companies are expressing concern about their financial situation and say they feel at a loss when it comes to energy efficiency. We are helping them reduce their energy use in every step of the way,” says Baljot Singh, Energy and Climate Advisor in the municipalities of Arboga, Fagersta, Kungsör and Köping.

“They ask the right questions to help companies”

In 2022, MEA team members paid visits to 110 companies to share their expertise on how to reduce the use of energy. The visits were performed within the scope of three ongoing energy transition projects, in addition to MEA’s government-appointed task of developing and putting companies in contact with municipal energy and climate guidance services. “I could not recommend The Mälardalen Energy Agency more. They are very knowledgeable, and they ask the right questions to help companies run their business in more energy and cost-effective ways, which makes them better prepared to handle the coming instability in electricity prices,” says Linda Uddman, Business Developer in Hallstahammar Municipality.