Winter impression from the campus: To get through the cold season well, it depends on centrally controlled measures and changes in personal behaviour. © RUB, Marquard

Saving 20 per cent energy This is how RUB intends to get through the winter

The national savings target for energy is 20 per cent. Together with other higher education institutions in Germany, RUB plays its part in showing solidarity.

In all crisis scenarios that are currently being projected for the upcoming heating period, the so-called 20 per cent target is emerging as the consensus: it’s expected that everyone will have to plan on saving 80 per cent of the energy compared to the previous year. For RUB, this means that all members should aim to adjust their consumption and demands accordingly. According to calculations, this goal can be achieved through a combination of centralised measures and changes to people’s individual habits. “By making everyday life a little less comfortable, we can arrive at these savings overall, which will probably be sufficient to maintain our university’s entire research, teaching and administration activities,” says Rector Professor Martin Paul. “In addition, we are thus contributing in to the common good to ensure every sector of society is supplied with less, but still sufficient energy.”

Joint goal of the state government and the universities

In the next few days, students at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia will start the winter semester 2022/2023. It is the joint goal of the state government and the universities that, despite the current tense energy supply situation, the vast majority of courses in the winter semester can take place in attendance.

What are the technical savings potentials at RUB?

The most important factor is heating: the primary way to save energy is to lower the room temperature. “The rule of thumb is: even one degree less results in a 6 per cent saving,” explains Dr. Robert Grosche, Head of Building and Facilities Management at RUB. “This means: if we lower the room temperature from 21 to 19 degrees, we would already save 12 per cent. We can achieve another 8 per cent through a large number of small-scale measures and through centralised measures.”

What can each and every one of us do?

Lowering the room temperature by two degrees is not possible at RUB simply by lowering the supply temperature at the central control room. It also requires that everyone sets their thermostats no higher than 3 during the day and turns the thermostat to 2 after closing time – or to 1 during longer absences, for example when working from home. “If everyone turns it up all the way, some people will stay nice and warm while others won’t benefit at all. Therefore, showing solidarity by turning the thermostat down is crucial for success,” says Grosche.

Additional savings can be achieved through measures that require each and every one to change their habits. These include:

  • using cold water to wash your hands
  • switching off lights at night or at the end of the working day
  • airing rooms for a short time in intervals instead of constantly
  • switching off devices rather than leaving them on standby when they're not in use
  • avoiding using microwaves in office kitchens wherever possible
  • not using private fan heaters, ventilators or air cons

RUB members are currently being advised about these and other savings potentials in a large-scale campaign.

Which centralised measures has RUB already implemented?

The facility management measures that have already been implemented or initiated include:

  • reduction of flow temperatures in heating circuits
  • conversion to self-regulating valves in all public areas
  • raising the room temperatures in air-conditioning systems
  • raising the flow temperature in the cooling circuit
  • setting the running times – for example of ventilation systems, lighting – solely to office hours
  • reduction of corridor lighting
  • switching off outdoor lighting that is not necessary
  • optimisation of system operation
  • reduction of hot water tapping points

The RUB’s consumption

In 2021, RUB consumed around 117,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of heat and around 84,000 MWh of electricity. The heat consumption – all of which is generated from gas – is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 30,000 single-family homes.

Published

Tuesday
27 September 2022
4:48 pm

By

Jens Wylkop (jwy)

Translated by

Donata Zuber

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