The need for a new approach in NEBs classification

Industrial energy efficiency has been widely recognized as a major contributor for the reduction of green-house gases emissions and the improvement of industrial competitiveness. Nevertheless, a broad set of studies have pointed out the existence of barriers limiting the adoption of promising Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs). Recently, authors have shown the relevance of the so-called “non-energy benefits” (NEBs) coming from the adoption of EEMs. Still, the existence of such benefits has been pointed out from specific studies and manuals for practitioners, but an overall framework describing them in terms of savings and benefits, as well as technical and management implications, cannot be found yet. Furthermore, the focus on an industrial decision-making perspective seems to be lacking. Hence, starting from a thorough literature review of scientific as well as practitioners studies, the present study aims at sheding the light on NEBs features, implementation issues and management implications coming from the adoption of EEMs. In summary, the study reveals major elements to be taken into consideration for a novel framework to properly address NEBs (and losses) in the implementation and service phases of an EEM from an industrial decision-making perspective, with consequent implications and suggestions for the stakeholders involved into an EEM supply chain. Additionally, the study sketches several opportunities for further researches into the topic for both industrial decision-making as well as policy-making purposes.