The main objective of the EMS-Textile project is the promotion of energy management practices to the textile industries of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Bulgaria. The project commenced at January 2005 and was fulfilled at June 2007. The energy management system that was developed was based on the accumulated know how and experience from environmental and energy management applications and was tailored for the specific needs and characteristics of typical Small – Medium size Enterprises, which represent the majority of the textile enterprises of the participating countries.   

The proposed energy management practices were implemented in the energy field of the textile companies aiming though to be adopted from companies of other sectors as well, via the motivation of the enhancement of efficiency and competitiveness. This project was mainly focused on the textile industries of the participating countries but experience and knowledge exchange was conducted with executives from various sectors and representatives from relevant IEE projects.

State of the art energy management and conservation practices implemented successfully through out the world were reviewed and assessed according to their results and applicability for the conditions of the typical textile enterprises of the participating countries. The requirements of the energy management system standard, the guidelines for its implementation and the energy conservation practices for the achievement of high energy efficiency were compiled as well as the promotion and support of the proposed practices implementation.

An appropriate energy audit methodology for the textile sector was developed and a supportive Energy Audit Tool was prepared. Special energy consumption data from various countries from all around the world were collected for the creation of a Benchmarking Report and the respective Benchmarking Tool, both of which can be used for the energy performance evaluation of textile companies. Pilot energy audits were conducted, three in each participating country, according to the EMS-Textile audit methodology. Energy conservation and efficiency measures were recommended for the energy intensive textile operations, exploiting all the accumulated know how on EU and global level.

Informative workshops, training seminars and pilot implementations were elaborated. For the promotion of the project’s outcomes, four Textile Energy Offices - Help Desks were established (one at each country), and thus the Energy Efficiency Network was formed, consisting of 200 stakeholders, 50 from each participating. The formation of the Energy Efficiency Network, the publication of articles, the creation of the EMS-Textile web site, the presentations of selected case studies and the distributions of leaflets and Best Practice CD’s, guarantee extensive dissemination on national and EU level. The operation of the Textile Energy Offices, even after the completion of the project, will ensure its continuation and effect.