Energy Management in Small and Medium Enterprises and Industries.

Major energy savings can still be made in small and medium sized companies and industries in France. However, there are numerous obstacles to such progress. Generally, the person in charge of energy problems in such companies and industries has many other duties and therefore cannot devote much time to energy problems. In industrial areas, the information this person receives is abundant but difficult to apply; in non-industrial areas, information is often insufficient. Professional training lacks specificity and studies carried out by specialized companies are often considered to be too expensive. Nevertheless, energy savings are possible - with the help and the advice of the AFME (the French Agency for the Mastery of Energy) it is being proven everyday that serious energy studies are profitable. The risk taken by carrying out changes involving new equipment is minimized by the energy suppliers' guarantees and the rapid profitability of possible investments.