To achieve the transition to a low-emission society, it is essential to cut emissions and find innovative solutions. An energy mapping provides an overview of a building's energy thieves and recommends investments to reduce energy consumption
An energy mapping analyzes the current condition of the building and provides the customer with a complete overview of the investments needed to achieve a more energy efficient building.
Johanna Olsen, project manager at AF Energi, has been responsible for AF Energi's largest analysis job ever this fall. The building stock of 59 of OBOS's commercial properties in the Oslo area has been mapped, and with an energy label guarantee, the buildings will be upgraded to a better energy label to meet future requirements.
– An energy mapping is a great way to gain better knowledge about your building and what is needed to achieve a more energy efficient building. Enova now supports energy mappings with 50 percent of the cost, so I would recommend everyone to carry this out now, says Olsen.
– Often, high electricity bills or an energy certificate nearing its expiration date are the reasons for the inquiries we receive. The first thing we do is identify the customer's goal. Then we submit an application to Enova so that the customer can receive support for the mapping, explains Olsen.
Once the application is submitted, the work begins to get an overview of the documentation from the building owner.
– We familiarize ourselves with the available documentation, such as floor plans, previous energy ratings, and service reports. In addition, we gain access to the building's energy monitoring system to analyze the building's energy consumption. Already at this stage, we often develop some theories about the energy thieves in the building and what measures we can take, says Olsen.
– The inspection is carried out together with someone who is well acquainted with the building. Together, we review all the technical aspects, such as the boiler room, ventilation systems, electrical systems, and lighting. We also map the building structure, says Olsen.
From AF Energi, usually two energy engineers or project managers participate, and an inspection typically takes between two and four hours, depending on the size of the building.
– Often, we are at older buildings where there is little documentation and little labeling of pipes and ducts. We then need to spend time figuring out how things are connected. Often, we have to follow pipes from the technical room to see where they end, explains Olsen.
Once the inspection is completed, it is time to put the various parts together.
– In this part of the mapping, we work with simulations and compare the actual consumption with what we have observed in the building. Among other things, we conduct a pressure test to determine the building's leakage rate, explains Olsen.
The report contains a description of the current state and recommended measures for a more energy-efficient building. The measures are tailored to each building and either contribute to a better energy rating or actual savings.
– Energy rating is a theoretical exercise and does not necessarily provide a good picture of actual savings on the customer's electricity bill. The measures we recommend depend on the customer's goal, explains Olsen.
AF Energi both designs and prices the measures so that the customer gets a realistic picture of what is needed to achieve their goals.
– Our advantage is that we are both advisors and contractors. This means that we can guarantee that the advice we give in the energy mapping will yield results. This provides the customer with predictability and assurance that the investment will deliver the promised results.
AF Energi can act as both an advisor and a contractor. By being involved in the entire process, from start to finish, we become well-acquainted with the building or buildings in question and can provide the customer with a guarantee of the goals they can achieve by implementing the recommended measures.