Also some virtuoso cases of energy optimisation systems put into practice by companies, but also technologies for the production of raw materials derived from industrial exhaust fumes, consultancy services for the disposal of industrial lubricants, water depuration systems, trade distribution services that reduce the use of packaging, recycling systems for electronic components.

The seventeen company cases presented at the Prize show that energy optimisation gives single companies enormous competition advantages, not only for the reduction of operation costs, but also because it offers companies the opportunity to monitor constantly the quality of productive processes.

Quality, efficiency and environment go more and more together. For the system-country on its whole, furthermore, the advantages of eco-efficiency include the restraining of inflationary effects owed to the high energy costs, the reduction of the dependence from energy supplies, the acquisition of trading negotiation grounds with respect to extra-EU markets, which are less active on the front of the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Added to these strictly financial benefits there are obviously those of a more liveable and less polluted environment, elements which in any case in the end also become economical benefits, since pollution and decrease of the quality of life translate into heavy external diseconomies for companies.