Energy saving measures
02 July 2009
Engineer Michael Petersen
Skive Municipality has installed solar panels at 25 schools, at one centre for the elderly and on 10 other buildings. The total area of panels is 2,747.5 m2, which helps to minimise the energy consumption in Skive Municipality.
Since 1986 Skive Municipality has invested around 38.6 million DKK in energy-saving projects in its municipal buildings.
Since the energy crisis, the energy consumption in municipal buildings has been in focus due to the rocketing energy prices. The first actions were reinsulation and replacement of single layer glass windows with thermal windows. In 1983 a more focused effort was launched, and resources were earmarked for reduction of energy consumption.
At the beginning of 1983 Skive Municipality consultants performed a total energy analysis of the buildings, which resulted in a "Green Report". In the report tables showed how the buildings were constructed and their degree of insulation and airproofing. In addition, suggestions for improvements were given with calculations of cost and the return they would create if they were implemented.
Energy management was launched in 1984-85 by consultants, and it was started by using a manual system, where the consultant organised all meters (electricity meters, hot water meters, district heating meters), installed thermometers at all the locations worth keeping an eye on. The users of the building would then record the energy consumption and key temperatures in a pre-printed form, submit it to the consultant each month, and each quarter they received a survey enabling them to compare the present consumption with last year's consumption. These forms were also sent to the Department of Technical Management.
In 1986, the effort to save energy was increased, and an engineer was hired solely to attend to a reduction in the municipal energy consumption. The energy management system was later (in 1988) replaced by an automatic energy-registration system in which a computer at the Department of Technical Management via modem collects data at night on all forms of energy consumption.
The many millions have been used for many different activities listed in broad terms below:
- Optimisation of ventilation
- Upgrading of oil-fired plants for district heating and gas-fired plants
- Optimisation of heat automatics
- Establishment of zone control equipment for all classrooms at all schools
- Reinsulation and sealing of buildings
- Establishment of heat recovery systems with heat pumps
- Setting up19 "major solar plants at 10 schools and at a centre for the elderly, at sports centres and day care centres
- Establishment of solar energy systems for solar plant pumps
- Establishing a control centre to monitor the consumption of resources, the consumption of water, electricity, gas and district heating
Energy monitoring is set up in approx. 65 technology rooms.
