How scientists helped companies save millions in energy costs

“Research in our county shows that the potential for energy savings at small and medium-large companies is about 30 %,” says Nawzad Mardan, coordinator for the project where researchers at the University of Gävle has helped companies improve their energy-efficiency.

Researchers at the University of Gävle have since 2016 helped small and medium-large companies to improve their energy efficiency.

The researchers and the companies 

About 50 companies have gathered in seven networks, and each network had access to researchers and experienced energy experts from the University of Gävle.

The first step was to make each company engage in energy mapping, and then the company together with a coordinator/energy expert set up an energy policy with clear objectives and an action plan.

A study on small and medium-large companies in Gävleborg shows that, potentially, energy efficiency in the county could increase by 30 percent.

“We wanted to show how much energy is used, what it costs, and what processes that use it and when and how they use it. We also wanted to show which measures that are cost-effective to put into effect,” says Nawzad Mardan, project coordinator and responsible for two of the networks.

Each network also has had meetings with an expert in a field of interest to the companies in the network.

Nawzad Mardan explains that it could be about changing routines in operations of machinery, changing the pressure of compressed air, seal leakage and streamlining lightning and ventilation etcetera.

Often, the University had their own experts in energy efficiency in the fields the companies were interested in.

Conference on 16 November

The University will host a conference when all companies will be gathered to share their experiences, "this is what we did and this is how much energy we saved."

“It is crucial to share their experiences with each other, so that everyone can see the good results and realise that it's possible.”

External experts in different fields will also be presenting the latest progress.
“This is very high in demand and something the companies wouldn't be able to do otherwise. It's also of great importance for us to see the reality of the companies.”

“We are very good at presenting suggestions, but it is rare for us to see our suggestions being put into practice. These are different companies with different pre-conditions and an incredibly instructive experience,” Nawzad Mardan says.

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The project is financed by Tillväxtverket, Region and the University of Gävle and will be completed in the summer of 2018. However, there are plans to restart the project with new companies.

“We have learned a lot and, for this reason, we will not make the same mistakes again,” Nawzad Mardan says.
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For more information, please contact:
Nawzad Mardan, senior lecturer in energy systems and coordinator for the project at the University of Gävle Phone: 070-191 37 07
Email: nawzad.mardan@hig.se

Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Photo: Ove Wall

Education and Research at a Scenic Campus.
The University of Gävle has approximately 17 000 students, more than 50 study programmes and second-cycle programmes, about 1 000 courses in humanities, social and natural sciences and technology.

Research Profiles
Built Environment and Health-promoting Working Life are the general research profiles of the higher education institution. Important parts included are Spatial Planning with a specialisation in Sustainable Built Environment and Musculoskeletal Disorders with the purpose to prevent work-related injuries. In 2010, the higher education institution received permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in the profile area of Built Environment.
The higher education institution has applied for permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in technology, humanities and social sciences.