Thermal energy consumption is the largest item of hromadas’ expenditures when paying for utilities. The market price for heat energy will never be low, so energy efficiency always remains on time.

We spoke with Andriy Berestyan, general manager of the Danfoss Ukraine office, the largest Danish industrial company. It specializes in energy-efficient solutions used in the municipal sector at the level of buildings and in heating systems.

 

Let's start with Denmark itself, why is there so much attention to energy efficiency?

The reasons are prosaic, in 1973 there was an oil crisis, and the Danes, who almost completely depended on imported oil, felt this crisis intensely.

In response, an energy policy, aimed to eliminate dependence on energy imports and build a stable national energy system, was developed.

Today total energy consumption in Denmark is less than in 1975, while the economy grew more than twice over this period.

How can we benefit from this experience today while arranging the Soviet infrastructure heritage in hromadas?

The following considerations will be useful here: the largest losses of heat energy in Ukraine take place at the level of buildings. This means that irrespective of how well we modernise the energy sources, boiler houses, how often we switch to alternative generation, if 70% of energy simply “flies away” through the walls and windows, we will not reduce consumption.

Energy-efficient measures are first being carried out in buildings, thus we reduce consumption and determine how much heat energy is actually needed, and after that we will proceed with sources\ modernisation.

If most heat is lost through buildings, where should we start from and how should we modernise them better?

To make the picture integral, I would say that even before the implementation of any energy-efficient measures, it is necessary to make sure that there is an accounting process – a counter that calculates how much heat we consume.

Then, as each building is unique, to understand where to start from, energy audits are to be conducted and energy passport of the building received.

When there is an accounting and energy audit, it becomes clear how to deal with the problems that exist in a particular building.

In order to achieve the best cost-effectiveness and comfort, it will be advisable to look at the complex of measures, complex thermo-modernisation of buildings.

Let's dwell on what a complex thermo-modernisation is in your understanding. What measures do you mean? What is their impact?

Look, if it is cold in the premises (while enough heat is coming to the building), this means that heat is not kept in the building. Solutions to this problem will include insulation, roof or basement repairs, windows’ replacement. That is why it is about the complex of measures that together will have the greatest effect.

 

There is another problem with uneven heating of premises. To solve this problem, it is necessary to balance the heating system.

How widespread are these measures in Ukrainian realities?

All of these measures are the requirements of modern construction regulations in place since 2000. In addition, we have many implemented projects that confirm the effectiveness of these measures in figures.

In addition to construction regulations at the level of buildings, there are regulations at the level of premises – due to installation of temperature control units.

Due to intelligent heating control systems, you can not only solve the problem of unused heating in premises, but also programme the temperature regime.

Finally, there is also a system of remote control and monitoring of heating systems by accountable buildings.

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