When considering energy savings, what does a low SIR indicate about a project's viability?

A low Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR) indicates that the energy savings generated by a project are not significant enough to justify the initial investment costs. The SIR is a critical measure used to evaluate the economic feasibility of energy efficiency projects; it compares the lifetime savings from reduced energy costs to the upfront costs of implementing the project.

When the SIR is low, it suggests that the financial gains from energy savings are not sufficient to cover the expenses incurred for the project, making it unattractive from an investment perspective. Decision-makers typically seek projects with a higher SIR, as these are more likely to provide favorable returns on investment. Therefore, a project with a low SIR is generally deemed not worth pursuing, as it does not align with typical financial incentives aimed at energy efficiency improvements.