Measures to save energy in public buildings were approved on Wednesday by the Council of Ministers, adopting a relevant proposal by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry (YEEB), Natasa Pileidou, reports a press release that issued by the Ministry. It is noted that the measures should be applied compulsorily by public bodies, with a recommendation for their implementation by the private sector as well.
The press release states that the need to further improve energy efficiency and energy savings in buildings and facilities owned or used by public bodies arises from recent announcements by the European Commission aimed at rapidly reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels. , the necessary actions to be taken in the short, medium and long term to reduce energy demand, the need to address the ongoing energy crisis and high energy prices, the obligation to further save energy in buildings and facilities owned or used by public agencies and the need to strengthen the exemplary role of public buildings, as provided for in article 14 of the Law on Energy Performance.
“The Council of Ministers will be informed annually about the progress of the implementation of the measures”, is underlined.
Among other things, it is recommended that the thermostat setting of the heating system not exceed 21°C (with an adjustment margin of +2°C for non-central heating systems) and that the thermostat setting of the air conditioning system not be lower than 26°C when these are used for cooling purposes. Furthermore, it is envisaged to turn off the cooling/heating in places and times where there are no employees, to turn off the office equipment in places and times when there are no employees, as well as to turn off the lighting in places and times when there are no employees unless issues arise security.
In addition, it is recommended to record the annual energy consumption (and for electricity in detail depending on the billing period). It is suggested that these data be sent on an annual basis to the Ministry of Energy for evaluation and analysis. In cases where there is a kitchen area in the building, the appliances should be switched off during non-working hours (e.g. water cooler/kettle machine with bottle) but also in the case where there is a refrigerator, the thermostat in the preservation chamber should be set at 7°C and in the freezer at -18°C.
In order to avoid or minimize energy losses from electrical and electronic devices during standby mode, all office devices should be disconnected from the power supply during non-working hours. For shared devices, this is recommended to be done using a timer. In the case of split-type air conditioning units, it is recommended to cut off the electricity supply during non-working hours, provided that the manufacturer of the units recommends such an action and that the frequent cut-off and restoring power supply does not damage the units.
Furthermore, it is recommended to upgrade the existing lighting systems with the use of energy-efficient lamps of a specific type and automation devices to control their switching off and/or dimming. The lighting in public monuments, parks, schools and in public buildings is proposed to interrupted or significantly reduced after 1am, unless safety issues arise.
It is proposed that the hours and arrangement of exterior lighting of public buildings be re-evaluated and replaced if required with either closed circuit monitoring or electronic security systems. Electromechanical installations and electromechanical equipment in owned and leased public buildings should be inspected, they are maintained and checked at regular intervals, based on a specific program.
External doors should be kept closed during all working hours, as long as the space heating/cooling system is in operation (automatic closing system). It is also recommended to provide information to employees (posters, displays) about the measures that have been implemented as mandatory in the building.
When replacing heating and cooling systems, it is recommended that the new systems be selected based on the best energy efficiency in relation to the purchase cost, taking into account the energy savings for the period of at least five years. Vehicle movements should be made, as long as there is the possibility of choosing a vehicle, with vehicles that have the lowest energy consumption l/km relative to the destination.
