The ESCO (Energy Service Company) project was launched at Roskilde University with the visit of the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, Rasmus Helveg Petersen. A panel discussion was held and a tour around campus area gave the minister an opportunity to see the university from the roof of one of RUC's buildings.

The ESCO project is an energy renovation concept where the costs of renovation are paid by the subsequent savings. The concept comes from the United States and has gained support in Denmark as well.

The ESCO project at RUC will include a large solar cell system which will supply 23% of the university's annual electricity consumption, and in addition, the project will also focus on technical installations such as the optimization of district heating systems, plumbing, ventilation and lighting.

A stronger green profile at RUC
RUC's University Director, Peter Lauritzen, welcomes the launching of the ambitious environmental project:

"With the ESCO project, RUC will strengthen its green profile and in collaboration with the Danish Building and Property Agency and Siemens, RUC will assume a lead position among Danish universities on the environment front. We are delighted about this and at the same time we encourage all of our students and teachers to clarify and seek out knowledge on sustainable energy solutions such as the ESCO project."

The Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, Rasmus Helveg Petersen, sees great potential in ESCO projects in the future and he is very pleased with the project at RUC:

"As the minister for Climate, Energy and Building, I would like to help lead the way with our own state buildings to ensure that they do not use more energy than necessary. This is a positive initiative in several respects: Good for business economics, good for the indoor climate and good for the environment. So this should definitely be a focus area in the future," says Rasmus Petersen.

 Facts about the ESCO project at Roskilde University:

• Siemens' analysis of RUC's 33 buildings has demonstrated that Roskilde University can save 22.5% (including solar panels) of its energy consumption.
• Energy renovation primarily concerns the technical installations, such as optimization of district heating systems, plumbing, ventilation, lighting and large solar cell systems.
• The investment of DKK 70 million is expected to be repaid over 14.5 years which will result in savings of nearly DKK 5 million.
• RUC's total electricity savings: 1. 334,690 kWh/annum =597,234 kg CO2 per annum.
• Solar power production: 779,940 kWh/annum.

Facts about ESCO:
ESCO is an energy renovation concept where the costs of renovation are paid by the subsequent savings. This means that the municipality or the private company does not need to finance the project up front. In an ESCO project, the contractor guarantees the energy savings calculated in the analysis phase. ESCO is originally an American concept that is gaining widespread support in Europe and Denmark.