RISE: How to Accelerate Energy Efficiency – Without Slowing Down Production

Energy efficiency has been a recurring topic of discussion for many years, yet significant untapped potential still remains. At the same time, EU requirements are tightening, and energy prices continue to rise. This affects both costs and competitiveness. For many companies, developing a clear and structured plan is therefore becoming increasingly important. Lisa Löfving, Head of Strategic Research and Business Development at RISE, explains how to get started in a smart way, identify the biggest energy drains, and implement measures that deliver quick and tangible results.

Today, energy efficiency is far from being an issue limited to individual facilities. It concerns Sweden’s entire building and property stock, from residential buildings and healthcare facilities to commercial premises, industrial operations and data centers. With stricter regulations and increased energy performance requirements, more property owners and businesses need better control over how buildings are operated, how energy is used and where it actually goes.

As Head of Strategic Research and Business Development in energy and heating, Lisa Löfving works to connect market needs with RISE experts, project managers and test environments. In her dialogue with companies, the same paradox often emerges: many are aware that savings can be made, yet energy efficiency still ends up lower on the priority list.

According to Löfving, this rarely requires changes to core operations. Instead, it is about gaining better control over the surrounding systems. In buildings, heating, ventilation and cooling often offer the greatest opportunities. In industry, compressed air systems, control systems and unnecessary operating modes are frequently major contributors. This is where many of the quickest gains can be achieved without affecting production.

“Industries are very good at what they are designed to do. If you run a sawmill, you are excellent at producing plank. If you produce food, you are excellent at producing milk. But you are not always equally skilled at seeing how many kilowatt-hours are required to produce that plank or that liter of milk.”

The Biggest Barrier Is Not Technology – It Is Prioritization

Löfving emphasizes that the obstacle is rarely a lack of technology or solutions. The challenge is that energy issues often lack a clear owner, and many measures are perceived as disruptive to operations.

“A shutdown that may be required to replace pumps or fans can generate significant savings. But if it means stopping production, companies often avoid it. Energy needs to be integrated into the overall operational planning, maintenance schedules, renovation plans and planned shutdowns.”

This is also where upcoming EU regulations may become a turning point. The Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will require more businesses to conduct energy audits and, in some cases, implement energy management systems. The intention is not for the results to become reports that remain on a shelf, but to lead to real action. For companies that have not yet addressed the issue, these requirements can serve both as a push in the right direction and an opportunity to quickly reduce energy costs.

“If you have been required to pay for an energy audit, I hope someone actually reads it. And once you read it, you can clearly see where energy is being lost and which measures, often not very expensive, can reduce both energy use and costs.”

A Simple First Step: Do a Night Walk

At the same time, she stresses that it is possible to get started without launching a major project. She highlights a simple but effective method that many overlook.

“One thing you can always do is a night walk. After everyone has gone home, walk around and check whether systems are still running and whether machines are properly shut down. Compressed air systems are particularly easy to detect when the building is quiet. You can hear leaks. You can see where heating or cooling is running unnecessarily.”

For many companies, a night walk becomes an eye opener and can serve as a first step before bringing in external expertise for a more comprehensive energy audit.

Three Common Energy Drains That Are Often Overlooked

When asked what typically stands out in practice, Löfving does not point to a single machine or component, but rather to a recurring pattern. Three areas frequently appear across different types of operations: control of heating and cooling, compressed air, and systems that counteract each other.

One example is ventilating heat out of one part of a building while heating another. These inefficiencies are often invisible in daily operations but drive costs around the clock.

“Control of heating and cooling is always significant. Compressed air can be a major culprit. And it is very common to heat and cool the same building at the same time in different areas. You might have a process generating heat that is ventilated away, while you simultaneously purchase district heating to warm office spaces elsewhere. There are often gains to be found there, but you will not see them unless you actively focus on energy.”

The message is clear: energy efficiency is rarely about a quick fix. It is about creating a holistic overview and planning measures in line with real operational conditions. For companies unsure where to begin, her advice is straightforward.

“Start by reviewing your energy bills. What are you paying for heating, cooling, electricity, gas? What levels are we talking about? If you lack in-house expertise, invest the necessary resources in a proper energy audit. It provides clarity on where energy goes and allows you to prioritize the right measures in the right order.”

Waste Heat – An Overlooked Opportunity

Another frequently overlooked opportunity is waste heat that today simply disappears. In some cases, heat pumps can upgrade low-temperature residual heat for reuse, for example for heating or feeding into district heating systems. This becomes particularly relevant as more data centers are built, often generating large volumes of heat without a clear recovery plan.

Why Other Companies Can Be the Strongest Driving Force

Löfving repeatedly returns to the idea that energy efficiency is rarely stopped by technical barriers. The real challenge is prioritization and maintaining long-term commitment. Behavioral changes can have an effect, but they are rarely sustainable if driven only by short-term initiatives.

“It works as long as attention is focused on it. But it does not create lasting behavioral change. To make it stick, you need continuous follow-up.”

She also notes how rising electricity prices in 2022 and 2023 increased the pace of change. Companies began discussing energy savings more actively, benchmarking against others and implementing measures previously postponed. What gets measured and visualized tends to get done. What gets followed up tends to last.

At the same time, she sees another underestimated driver: inspiration.

“I strongly believe in learning from others and seeing that solutions actually work, technically, economically and from a sustainability perspective.”

And for those ready to take immediate action, her advice is concise:

“Review your energy bills. Do a night walk. Build a plan aligned with your maintenance schedule and operational shutdowns. That way, you can accelerate without stopping production.”

Clima Energy Nordic 2027

How can property owners and industry reduce energy use without compromising operational reliability, financial performance or the pace of transition? This is one of the key questions at Clima Energy Nordic, a meeting place bringing together stakeholders from the property sector, industry and the energy market.

Step by Step: How to Get Started with Energy Efficiency

1. Review your energy bills and understand what you are actually paying for in electricity, heating, cooling and gas.
2. Conduct a night walk to identify unnecessary operation, leaks and systems running without need.
3. Map your entire energy flow, both incoming and outgoing, to identify the largest losses.
4. Prioritize measures that can be implemented during planned shutdowns, maintenance and renovations.
5. Start with the biggest culprits, often system control, compressed air, and heating and cooling systems working against each other.

Clima Energy Nordic is the Nordic region’s new meeting place for sustainable and energy efficient buildings and facilities. With a focus on efficient energy use in heating, ventilation and cooling for indoor climate, property owners, investors, installers, suppliers, consultants, researchers and decision makers come together to drive the development towards sustainable buildings, facilities and profitable investments.

About Clima Energy Nordic