Background information

The measure was initiated because of the issue of energy usage amongst businesses (and its cost). This is both an economic as an ecological problem that can be resolved at the same time. The measure provides services such as energy audits and pre-feasibility studies via the provision of vouchers. These “energy” business vouchers intend to pave the way for more rational use of energy by companies.

Content of measure

In order to improve the energy performance of the company, they will first go through an evaluation phase of their current activities.

This audit phase can cover both the buildings of the company (e.g.: exterior and/or HVAC systems,...), the production processes, the lighting of the premises or even a renewable energy based production system.

Depending on the data that is already available for the specific needs of a company, different analyses can be carried out: a simplified audit, global audit or partial audit. These audits are an energy inventory of the activity of the company, carried out by service providers approved by the governmental energy services.

Regardless of the price, the cost of the audit is covered at 75% (excl. VAT) by the Walloon Region.

Companies that already carried out an audit and/or are convinced of the usefulness of a new project aimed at improving the company's energy performance might benefit from a further analyses of the investment. This can be done via a pre-feasibility study. Before going any further, it might be useful to study and analyze in depth the relevance of such an investment .

The Walloon region wants to support these efforts via reimbursements of the costs related to such analyses. Concretely, the Walloon Region covers 75% (excl. VAT) of the cost of the study, with a maximum of €5,000.

Use of measure

There is no data on uptake.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Local / regional government	Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The involvement of social partners is unknown.

Views and reactions

There have been no public statements on the views of the social partners on the specific measure.

Sources

• 01 January 2021: Des chèques-entreprises pour soutenir les (futurs) entrepreneurs wallons (www.1890.be)