Perspective
Energy efficiency
Buildings
District energy
+5
On 10 March, EU countries struck a deal to reduce energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030, in order to fight climate change and cut back the use of fossil fuels.
To achieve this goal, the implementation energy-efficient solutions is essential. Providing inspiration from Denmark and beyond, State of Green has gathered five examples of Danish solutions that can Europe curb its energy use.
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to eliminate energy waste, lower energy costs, and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
There is great potential for efficiency improvements in every sector, whether it is buildings or industry.
Energy efficiency is an embedded part of Denmark’s mindset, as Denmark has worked with energy efficiency measures since the 70s.
Discover energy efficiency
70% of the buildings in the Txantrea neighbourhood in Pamplona, Spain, were built during the 1980s, making age-related energy loss a common issue.
By improving the thermal insulation in the facade and roof, as well as helping residents to understand how insulation works, and encouraging energy-efficient behaviour at home, Rockwool has managed to turn some of Spain’s least energy-efficient buildings into some of the best energy performers.
By implementing a Demand Driven Distribution System, an intelligent pressure management system, Grundfos has ensured lower costs, longer system lifetime and reduced both water and energy usage in the towns of Montodine, Credera, Moscazzano, Ripalta Arpina and Ripalta Guerina in Italy’s Lombardy region.
Eliminating water losses as a result of NRW increases the available water supply and minimises pressure on local water resources. In addition, energy savings of 17% have been realised throughout the region.
Danfoss has contributed to a cost-effective and sustainable district heating supply in the new city quarter in the port of Hamburg, called HafenCity.
By using surplus heat from industry, supermarkets, data centres etc., the utilisation of district heating brings several benefits, such as higher energy efficiency, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy imports, resulting in lower energy bills.
All over the world, run-down industrial areas and worn-out buildings are left empty as society and industry changes. The retrofitting of existing buildings holds great potentials. Through retrofitting we can secure significant reductions in the constructions CO2 footprint and add new energy to neighbourhoods.
Juul Frost Architects have transformed Siljangade in Copenhagen, a building housing small, local companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs, recycling the existing raw industrial house, saving approximately 80% of the buildings CO2 footprint from the existing structure.
Data centers produce a lot of waste heat, and if not taken advantage of, its potential savings are lost. That is why Nordea and Høje Taastrup District Heating wished to establish a project where a heat pump uses heat waste from Nordea’s data center.
This resulted in a project, where Høje Taastrup District Heating establishes and operates a heat pump system which is placed in Nordea’s buildings and is connected to Nordea’s data centre. The waste heat from the data centre which is otherwise ventilated through dry coolers is instead increased in temperature by a heat pump and then the energy from the heat waste can be used for district heating.
This project demonstrates how it is possible to use waste heat effectively, with the heat pump to deliver district heating corresponding to approximately 700 households’ heat consumption.
