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Energy Audit as an Instrument to Tackle Internal Barriers to Energy Efficiency: Lessons from Moroccan Industrial Firms

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  • Mehdi Bensouda

    (Laboratory of Research and Studies in Management, Entrepreneurship and Finance (LAREMEF), National School of Commerce and Management of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco)

  • Mimoun Benali

    (Laboratory of Research and Studies in Management, Entrepreneurship and Finance (LAREMEF), National School of Commerce and Management of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco)

  • Ghada Moufdi

    (Studies and Research in Management of Organizations and Territories (ERMOT), Faculty of Legal, Economics and Social Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco)

  • Taoufik El Bouzekri El Idrissi

    (Laboratory of Research and Studies in Management, Entrepreneurship and Finance (LAREMEF), National School of Commerce and Management of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco)

  • Abdelhamid El Bouhadi

    (Laboratory of Research and Studies in Management, Entrepreneurship and Finance (LAREMEF), National School of Commerce and Management of Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30050, Morocco)

Abstract

Due to climate change, firms are encouraged to introduce various measures to enhance both their competitiveness and sustainability, particularly energy efficiency measures (EEMs). Energy efficiency is particularly important in energy-intensive sectors such as the industrial sector. However, EEMs within industrial firms are hindered by several internal barriers such as competing interests within firms, lack of information regarding energy efficiency opportunities, and low technical competence. In this regard, energy audits aim to improve energy efficiency in facilities and to tackle internal barriers to energy efficiency. We developed a model that seeks to investigate the significance of energy audits in the implementation of EEMs and to reduce the intensity of internal barriers to energy efficiency. Our research model was empirically tested via data collected from a survey conducted with 193 industrial firms in the Kingdom of Morocco. Results show that competing interests, lack of information, and low technical competence hinder the adoption of EEMs within industrial firms, which aligns with findings from previous studies. In addition, our findings indicate that energy audits enhance EEMs and mitigate the negative effect of lack of information and low technical competence on the adoption of EEMs, which is consistent with findings from prior studies. However, our results demonstrate that energy audits do not attenuate the negative effect of competing interests on EEMs; this contrasts with findings from several previous studies. Therefore, our study builds upon prior research and contributes new insights regarding the importance of energy audits in tackling internal barriers to energy efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehdi Bensouda & Mimoun Benali & Ghada Moufdi & Taoufik El Bouzekri El Idrissi & Abdelhamid El Bouhadi, 2023. "Energy Audit as an Instrument to Tackle Internal Barriers to Energy Efficiency: Lessons from Moroccan Industrial Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11552-:d:1202959
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