Know-how and tools

Energy services – guaranteed energy savings
It may be helpful to enter an agreement with an energy services company (ESCO) in order to find, and eventually implement energy savings. In overall terms, the agreements are self-financing via the actual savings, so even though this involves paying an ESCO to take responsibility for the work, the result can be good business for the owner of the building.

Using an ESCO also guarantees that savings will be identified and delivered. Typically, savings will flow directly to the owner of the institution or building after 3-8 years.

> Read more about energy services and how to make an energy services agreement.

Heating installations are the most expensive items on energy bills
Heating installations often account for the largest share of the energy consumption in a building.

This is why heating installations are a really good place to start asking critical questions:

• How old is the installation?
• What sort of fuel do you use?
• Can your installation be advantageously replaced by an energy efficient installation and possibly more CO2-friendly fuel?
• What sort of heat circulator pump is installed? Is it an older, inefficient pump or an energy-efficient A-rated pump.?
• Can control equipment be fitted so the installation functions optimally in relation to demand, the time of year and outside temperature?
• Can the heating installation by switched off when the heating is no longer required?

> Read more about heating installations and circulator pumps.

In Denmark, there is a statutory requirement to inspect boilers and check the efficiency of heating installations.

> Read more about boilers on the Danish Energy Agency's website.

Weather protection – is the building well insulated and air tight?
A large heating bill is often blamed on the fact that heat escapes through the ceiling, roof, windows and walls (weather protection). The energy label for a building includes an assessment of the building's weather protection, and suggestions for improvements that will save energy.

For example, it can often pay to have cavity wall insulation. Fitting new windows can also save a lot of energy.

> Read more about possible ways to improve weather protection.
 
Lighting – energy efficient lighting systems
A lot of money can be saved on lighting in public sector buildings. If you switch to energy efficient lighting systems you also benefit from improved and healthier lighting.

> Read more about lighting systems.

Insulation of technical installations
All associated technical equipment connected to heating installations should be well insulated. Pipe insulation should be used on all pipework. This means that all straight fittings, elbows, valves and couplings should be insulated irrespective of whether they are routed outside or inside the building's insulation layer.

The heat loss from uninsulated pipes is actually the reason for large additional costs associated with heating.

Ventilation – regular inspection
Regular inspections of your ventilation system help to provide better ventilation, and reduce your electricity consumption. Many ventilation systems actually use power even when there is no need for them to be on during the evening, overnight, over the weekend, and during the holidays. Around 1/3 of all systems do not ventilate well enough and thus provide a poor indoor climate. This can result in users of the building having headaches and feeling tired.

It is a good idea to undertake a survey of the ventilation system to establish exactly which system the building has, how it is controlled, and how efficient it is.

A survey is provided as part of the ventilation check-up from the Danish Energy Saving Trust.

> Advice and recommendations for energy efficient operation of ventilation systems and for the purchase of energy efficient ventilation equipment.