International businesses should compare buildings and sites between countries to push them to cut energy waste.

That’s the advice of Schneider Electric’s UK Country President Stuart Thorogood who says “peer pressure” is a great way to slash energy use.

Speaking at Energy Live 2013 last week, Mr Thorogood told the audience of large energy users and energy managers: “Peer pressure is a driver for energy, have some benchmarking information across an organisation.

“If it’s multi-country, have a look at all the sites that are similar and contact them to say, ‘Look, you’re using twice as much as these other guys, why?”

He believes we’re well past point when people couldn’t be bothered with saving energy: “We’ve got past that point. Maybe five years ago people couldn’t be bothered with energy efficiency. But today, well a recent survey found more than 90% of CEOs list energy and sustainability as a top priority.

“People are doing it. People are willing to bring money to the table.”