Romania's ongoing energy crisis, marked by record-low Danube water levels and declining nuclear output, has prompted sustainability consultancy BuildGreen to argue that decarbonisation should be treated as a cost management and risk reduction tool rather than purely an ESG obligation. According to ANRE data, hydropower and nuclear energy together accounted for nearly half of Romania's electricity generation in March 2026, yet nuclear production fell by 12.3% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. This pressure arose despite electricity consumption being 3.4% lower than during the corresponding period in 2025.
Companies that have conducted energy audits and developed efficiency strategies are better positioned to respond to such volatility, BuildGreen argues, because they can identify energy-intensive processes and intervene quickly without disrupting operations. This level of preparedness also enables participation in demand-response programmes, through which large consumers temporarily reduce energy demand during peak periods to help balance the power grid. The concept is included in the LEED standard and has recently been incorporated into the BREEAM methodology.
"During periods of pressure on the energy system, the difference between a company that has data and one that does not becomes critical. Organisations that have measured their energy consumption and invested in efficiency can make fast, well-informed decisions with an immediate impact on costs and operational continuity," said Răzvan Nica, Founder and CEO of BuildGreen and CarbonTool.
In practical terms, a well-performing building can temporarily reduce energy demand by optimising heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, adjusting indoor temperatures or shutting down non-essential equipment. BuildGreen notes that energy audits are among the fastest ways to identify savings, with initial measures often implementable without significant capital expenditure by optimising operating schedules and eliminating unnecessary consumption.
"For years, decarbonisation was primarily associated with climate goals and reporting obligations. Today, we see that it also means productivity, cost control, and economic resilience. Companies that generate the same value with lower energy consumption will perform better in an economy marked by volatility," concluded Răzvan Nica.
