In a world where energy is required for daily activities, the lack of access to energy and limited availability of renewable sources are serious legitimate concerns. To address this, energy management company Schneider Electric has launched a three-pronged initiative.
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Simply called “Fighting Fuel Poverty”, the programme is for households in mature economies that cannot maintain sufficient heating and power inside the home without spending a significant amount of their household income.
This fuel poverty situation is commonly noted in Europe, but according to Schneider Electric, a global energy management specialist, it applies to any part of the world, even Asia.
“An example would be people who have old light bulbs and electric heating that consume a lot of energy,” explained Alban Jacquin, Schneider Electric’s sustainability performance and communities director, in an interview with Eco-Business.
“This also implies there are huge potential savings which can be made with minimal upfront investment costs, such as installing low-consumption bulbs and energy monitoring systems to sustain savings,” Jacquin said.
The bulk of the programme, however, focuses on affecting change in a bigger scale.
The three-part programme consists of: creating partnerships and supporting associations that help combat fuel poverty via awareness and educational and training programmes; investing in small and medium enterprises that aim for better living conditions through clean and efficient energy; and, developing specific solutions for fuel impoverished people to help measure their energy consumption and instil in them fuel-saving habits.
Jean-Pascual Tricoire, chairman and chief executive officer of Schneider Electric, said, “Although a third of our planet’s inhabitants benefit from secure, affordable energy, there are 1.3 billion people still without access to electricity and hundreds of millions in mature countries whose energy bill leave them in a situation of fuel poverty.”
Schneider, through the Schneider Electric Foundation, has recently joined hands with Fondation de France to jumpstart the first part of the programme.
As for the second part on investments, Jacquin said, “The selection is done by our Schneider Electric Energy Access impact investment fund based on the geography, the type of business and how it has an impact on the issue as well as the financial solidity of the company.”
In contrast, the third part of the programme looks at the financial incapacity of consumers. The company is banking on its integrated energy solutions to provide low-cost metering and software programmes to let people understand their energy usage.
“We feel that most end-users are not aware of how much energy they consume within their household, and this makes them incapable of taking the appropriate decisions to lower energy consumption,” Jacquin explained.
Company employees and retirees are welcome to help in the “Fighting Fuel Poverty” initiative. Another Schneider organisation, the Schneider Electric Teachers association, will allot the volunteer assignments similar to the earlier programme of Schneider Electric on access to energy.
