Around 10,000 Energy Scouts contribute to efficiency and climate action in companies in southeastern Europe and Germany
Their projects involve eliminating styrofoam packaging, using solar energy to supply electricity, installing efficient compressed-air nozzles, and they have a common goal: reducing CO2 emissions through practical measures in their companies. Close to 10,000 Energy Scouts supported by the German Federal Environment Ministry through the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) are looking for potential savings in their companies in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic and Hungary. They are being honoured today for their outstanding work by German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and President of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) Dr Eric Schweitzer.
German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze commented: "The Energy Scouts are a good example of how experiences with climate action at national level can also be shared and further developed with European neighbours. The growing number of Energy Scouts sends a strong message n how to step up climate action in companies and municipalities, in Germany and in Europe."
Every year several hundred teams compete for the title of "Energy Scout of the Year". The best candidates came together for the first time in 2020 in an online event. The 2020 winners are:
- Bulgaria Atanas Milev and Ivan Lazarov of ABB Bulgaria EOOD, Petrich office
With their project to build a 30 kilowatt-peak (kWp) photovoltaic system for the company's own consumption, they will generate annual savings of 37,702 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
- Germany Category: Small Enterprises
Julia Philipps and Phil Beckord from winklerswurst GmbH & Co. KG in Rheda-Wiedenbrück
By switching to styrofoam-free shipping material, they reduce CO2 emissions by more than 46 tonnes and save over 8,600 euros per year. Category: Medium-sized Enterprises
Aaron Gessner and Erik Schmitt, Joyson Safety Systems PlasTec GmbH in Bad Kissingen
They have developed a mechanical filling device for plastic granulate to replace the system controlled by compressed air. This translates into savings of nearly 71 tonnes of CO2 and 21,000 euros in costs per year. Category: Large Enterprises
Sophia Carolina Lindner, Servet Anar and Nicholas Lehmann from H. & J. Brüggen KG in Lübeck
The team reduced water consumption by 5,733 cubis meters (m3) using a high-pressure cleaner with rotary lance. At the same time, they reduced the amount of gas needed to heat the water for cleaning, generating additional savings of more than 75 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
- Greece Panagiotis Kapelios and Adam Balampanis from TrainOSE
Their project involves switching to LED lighting, upgrading the compressed-air circuit and reducing the amount of heating energy needed by integrating preheated air into the system.
- Czech Republic Jan Bílek from Preol, a.s.
In his project, the Energy Scout Jan Bilek uses the waste heat from condensate in production for heating and hot water in the administration building. This reduces the need for fuel in the form of pulverised lignite by 405 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year, with annual CO2 savings of as much as 147 tonnes.
- Hungary Ágnes Sebestyén, István Csordás, István Sipos and Ferenc Németh from DENSO Manufacturing Hungary Ltd.
They installed efficient nozzles and optimised a drill grinder for their compressed-air project. The measures result in annual savings of 1,781 MWh of electricity and 408 tonnes of CO2 emissions with an amortisation period of only 0.27 years.
With the Young Energy Europe project, the German Federal Environment Ministry provides support for training European Energy Scouts under the European Climate Initiative. The training takes place at the foreign chambers of commerce in Bulgaria, Greece, the Czech Republic and Hungary in cooperation with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK).
The German Energy Scouts are funded by the National Climate Initiative of the Federal Environment Ministry in the German SME Initiative Energiewende and Climate Protection. The SME initiative is supported by four partners: the Federal Environment Ministry, the Federal Economics Ministry, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the German Federation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). The winning projects were selected by a jury made up of representatives of the four partners. Financed by the National Climate Initiative of the German Federal Environment Ministry and the Energy Efficiency Fund of the Federal Economics Ministry, the initiative promotes projects and events throughout Germany.