Case studies

School near Brussels aims at a 30% energy savings with the modernisation of its heating system with oil condensing boilers

Why?

Existing school buildings are traditionally large consumers of energy, as many school buildings carry the weight of their historic past: most buildings are old and need retrofitting. In Belgium, more than 60% all school buildings were built before 1970, at a time when energy savings and climate protection were not a priority in the minds of many school authorities. In order to reach the EU objectives of achieving 32.5% energy savings by 2030 and the target of the reduction of 80% greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 by 2050, much work is still ahead. A large school near Brussels sets the example.

 

What?

Ten years ago, the school board launched an extensive energy savings program to reduce its energy bills. The head of the technical service of the school remembers that at that time, the school used approximately 300,000 liters of heating oil per year. “In 10 years we have managed to have all buildings equipped with wall and roof insulation and high-performing windows. It has halved our annual consumption for heating & sanitary hot water to approximately 140,000 liters of heating oil. Yet this is only a first step.” During the summer of 2018, the school modernised its heating system and replaced three existing oil boilers(2,2 MW) with 2 condensing ones of 400 kW each. The regulation system of the boilers was completely renewed, and all heating pipes in the boiler room were insulated in order to reduce energy losses. The next step for the school is the implementation of an energy accounting system in order to be able to monitor the energy consumption of the new installation. During the first 3 months of operation, the consumption has already dropped by 10%. The head of the technical department of the school thinks the target of 30%energy saving is within reach by fine-tuning the installation’s new temperature control system. A combination with renewable energy is also under investigation.

Belgium

Outcome

- In this school, using highly efficient oil heating technology in combination with appropriate insulation reduces energy consumption by 80%.

- It is an excellent example in the field of how large school buildings can achieve Europe’s targets inenergy saving and reduction of greenhouse gasemissions.


pdf towards 30% savings in belgian school