EUKN - Netherlands - Thermoprofit

Thermoprofit – Graz, AT

Introduction

Thermoprofit is a promotional programme to disseminate service packages like Energy Performance Contracting or Third Party Financing and will lead to a saving of energy costs, a reduction in energy consumption and environmental pollution and a stimulation of the regional economy.

Problem

Obstacles standing in the way of rational energy utilisation can be overcome with the help of energy services that include financing schemes. At present, however, these innovative models are still largely unknown and their potential is far from being fully utilised.

Description

Thermoprofit was first conceived as part of the Graz Municipal Energy Plan. It was developed in collaboration with representatives from utilities, local authorities, companies, NGOs, etc.

The aim of this promotional programme is to disseminate energy services such as Energy Performance Contracting or Third Party Financing. This will lead to a saving in energy costs, a reduction in energy consumption and environmental pollution, and a stimulation of the regional economy.

The essential characteristics of Thermoprofit projects are:

A reduction in the energy used in buildings.
Economic advantages for the owners and users of buildings.
A direct or indirect reduction in pollutants and CO2 emissions.
Planning and implementation carried out by a Thermoprofit partner.
Thermoprofit guarantees that energy costs will stay below a defined limit.

Approach

The Thermoprofit Programme contains the key elements of Third Party Financing and Energy Performance Contracting, while being organised in a more flexible way.

The development and penetration of the market for total service packages is being achieved via four main strategies:

Creation of a Thermoprofit network of competent suppliers.
Developing and establishing quality standards.
Independent support provided by the Graz Energy Agency and other partner agencies.
An information and marketing initiative.

Results

Thermoprofit projects have been implemented in a wide range of buildings. These include:

municipal buildings, including pools of 5 buildings in the City of Salzburg, 9 in Kirchbach, and the City Hall and administration block in Graz itself;
improving the energy performance of schools;
high environmental quality restoration (Vinzenz -Muchitsch-Straße and 70 residential buildings at Denggenhofsiedlung);
comprehensive renovation of buildings;
solar heat supply (BUWOG and Schillerheim student hall of residence);
improving street lighting (Kirchbach, given an award by the “Energy Profi Competition 2003”);
installing biomass heating ( Herberstein zoo);
thermal renovation and optimising energy use (Joanneum Research, given an award by the “Energy Profi Competition 2003”).

Contact info

Graz Energy Agency
Phone: +43/316/811848-0
office@grazer-ea.at

Project start date

01/05/1998

Planned end date

31/12/2013

Links

Graz is a partner in the Energie Cités Network

Download the 'Thermoprofit – Graz, AT' Report Part 1 (PDF, Eng, 282 KB)

Download the 'Thermoprofit – Graz, AT' Report Part 2 (PDF, Eng, 140 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment > Environmental sustainability

Keywords