Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
from an of
cation scheme specially designed for these companies. ESCOs
could specialize in servicing customers with speci
cial certi
les (schools,
sports centers, supermarkets, etc.), generating higher quality services and mini-
mizing skepticism of potential clients.
In addition, most of our interview respondents expressed that the lack of reliable
data related to the building sector is one of the main obstacles for successful
implementation of energy ef
c consumption pro
ciency policies. The implementation of a professional
and accountable energy audit scheme is recommendable in order to gather reliable
information regarding the energy consumption pro
le of each building. This
information would be helpful
to establish an adequate work plan for future
renovations.
Furthermore, the AEB
'
s buildings monitoring program should be extended to
the rest of Barcelona
s public buildings and eventually to residential and industrial
buildings. This would reduce the existing asymmetric information problem between
the AEB and the bidder companies with regards to the audit results.
With respect to another identi
'
ed asymmetric information problem, we believe
that the incorporation of an ESCO contract into the new version of the STO could
prove to be an effective solution for overcoming the above mentioned moral hazard
issue. By forcing the construction or maintenance company to receive compensa-
tion strictly based on the amount of energy savings that are generated by the unit,
the company would be incentivized to use the most effective materials to install the
unit in order to ensure high ef
ciency, and thus, a quicker payback period.
5.5 Market-Related
On a national level, efforts should be made to unify the differing regional regula-
tions relating to ESCOs. This would create conditions for a bigger and more
attractive market, allowing for a critical mass to be reached. More competition will
also lead to better quality energy services and lower prices for consumers. Addi-
tionally, a bigger, more competitive market would help Spain become more energy
ef
cient, less contaminant and more energy independent.
In conclusion, we hope that the
ndings presented in this chapter have con-
tributed to uncover the fundamental obstacles to the widespread implementation of
the ESCO model in Barcelona, as well as throughout the rest of Spain. Some of the
identi
ed barriers are simply due to incomplete or inaccurate information while
others are directly linked to bureaucracy and the insuf
cient implementation of
government policies and procedures. Indeed, given the slow evolution of policy
framework conditions, perhaps a deeper investigation into the role of
nancing
institutions as an enabler of innovative business models in the energy ef
ciency
space is warranted.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search