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The ‘Energy Scouts’ project is a joint initiative set up by the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce (IHK), EnergieAgentur.NRW and Effizienz-Agentur NRW that aims to make apprentices in their region more aware of the importance of energy and resource efficiency. Three REMONDIS apprentices decided to enter the competition, putting their heads together to come up with the “REMONDIS Smart Heater Efficiency” concept that involved them developing an energy-efficient central heating system for one of the office buildings on the Lippe Plant – a concept that has now won them first place.
The three award-winning ‘Energy Scouts’, Mark Feiler, Lea Sacharzek and Jean-Patrick Nolte, developed the project in collaboration with Kai-Erik Sattler and Lukas Matuschka (both responsible for energy management) and have become genuine efficiency heroes. Their new system of decentralised radiators, which are able to factor in door/window movement and outdoor temperatures, can reduce carbon emissions by more than 8,000 kilograms every year and cut energy consumption by 32,000 kilowatt hours. This means that the investment costs can be recovered within just two and a half years.
CO2 emissions can be cut by 8,000kg every year thanks to the REMONDIS Smart Heater Efficiency concept
What’s more, REMONDIS’ Smart Heater Efficiency portal makes it possible for the room temperature to be automatically adjusted after office hours, at weekends as well as during the holiday period. While the project is still in the process of being implemented, the team’s idea has already won them a prize. They beat their local competition (16 other competitors) from the districts of Dortmund, Hamm and Unna to take part in the national finals in Berlin at the end of June.
Mark Feiler, Lea Sacharzek and Jean-Patrick Nolte (from left to right) won Gold for their Energy Scout project idea
They took a look around and found the input they needed for their idea at one of the office buildings, where the rooms were being aired wrongly, the radiators had old thermostats and were permanently turned on and the outside temperature played no role whatsoever. This was, therefore, also the place where they could save the highest amount of energy. “The high energy consumption levels, which lay at around 160,000 kilowatt hours a year, were crying out for a new and innovative control system,” explained Mark Feiler, who is training to become an industrial management assistant at REMONDIS Production.
To be an ‘Energy Scout’, the apprentices had to recognise where energy consumption could potentially be cut at their employer’s, to document this and to take steps to bring this about.
Before they began working on their concept, the apprentices first took part in a practical workshop organised by the Chamber of Commerce to teach them more about resource conservation and Germany’s switch from fossil fuels to renewables. The workshop was divided up into three modules and enabled them to look into energy and energy efficiency in more detail as well as to enhance their project work and communication skills.