The Siemens Building Technologies Division has just won the 2015 European Energy Service Award (EESA) in the “Projects” category for its implementation of an Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) project in the Polish city of Sosnowiec. This project focused on the heating systems and energy management in 87 public schools and preschools in this industrial city in the Silesia region. All heating and lighting systems in the buildings were modernized from the ground up in a period of just ten months. In addition, the Advantage Navigator energy monitoring system was installed to remotely monitor overall energy consumption.

The system allows personnel to remotely control the room temperature in every classroom and set it to the desired target value. “In the past, classrooms were typically kept too hot, which made it difficult for students to concentrate. Thanks to the state-of-the-art heating system and continuous energy monitoring we are now able to provide a comfortable learning environment for students,” says Marek Tobiacelli of Siemens Poland.

At the same time, Siemens has guaranteed heating cost savings of approximately 31 percent, electricity savings for lighting of 21 percent and a reduction of CO2 emissions by 5,220 metric tons per year compared to the initial situation. The measures are financed through an Energy Performance Contract with Siemens. This means that the city of Sosnowiec’s initial investments of approximately 4 million euros will be paid back through the guaranteed savings realized over the ten-year contract period; interim financing is provided by Siemens.