Abstract
Using a large sample of enterprises from a survey that was simultaneously conducted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we study the self-reported impacts of the adoption of “green” energy saving and related technologies (GETs). Our specific interest is in how different policy instruments associate with energy efficiency, the reduction of hbox {CO}_{2} emissions, and competitiveness at the firm level. A first set of equations tracks how policy relates to the adoption of green energy technologies in distinct areas such as production, transport, buildings, ICT or renewables. In a second set of equations, we test the perceived impacts of adoption by the managers of the firms. The results confirm a differentiated pattern of varied transmission mechanisms through which policy can affect energy efficiency and hbox {CO}_{2} emissions, while on average having a neutral impact on the firms’ competitiveness. Further, discarding the conventional dichotomy between incentive-based versus command-and-control type instruments, the results suggest to pursue a comprehensive policy mix, where standards, taxes and subsidies each capitalize on different transmission mechanisms.
Highlights
The principle of sustainability has become a powerful idea and a key challenge for societies to cope with
This paper investigates how public policies associate with the adoption of new green energy technologies (GETs) and the self-reported impacts on competitiveness in a large sample of individual companies
For energy-related management systems we test how the inducement factors associate with their adoption as well as the further correlation of energy management system (EMS) with the adoption of GETs
Summary
The principle of sustainability has become a powerful idea and a key challenge for societies to cope with. At high per capita income, environmental efficiency tends to improve, because of structural change in favour of services and preferences for a clean environment.7 While this contributes to the decoupling of the growth of emissions relative to that of output, growth is likely to further increase the cumulative stock of pollutants. Our central concern is how different policy instruments such as standards and negotiated agreements, taxes or subsidies are related to the adoption of GETs by the companies and to their self-reported environmental impacts and competitive position in the market For this purpose, we had to create a new enterprise survey, which we conducted simultaneously in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (the ‘DACH region’).
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