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ICAEN collaborates with UPC to improve energy efficiency in buildings

Antoni Giró, rector of the UPC, and Encarna Baras Marin, director of the Catalan Institute of Energy (ICAEN), have signed a new agreement to implement energy saving measures in the university buildings.

This is the third agreement signed between ICAEN and UPC to perform such actions, previous agreement were signed in 2006 and in 2007-2008. The energy saving measures planned for this course envisage improvements in the lighthing and in the AC facilities of the campuses. The savings actions undertaken in recent years have allowed UPC to stabilize electricity consumption and to reduce gas consumption, which in 2009 was the lowest since 2003, despite the built area increase.

The signing of the new agreement will strengthen the SIRENA monitoring network (Information System of Energy and Water Resources), which is expected to provide 100% of information on electricity and gas consumption of the UPC in 2011.

The recent extension and consolidation of SIRENA has allowed the university to perform saving tests based on improved facilities management, by the real-time consumption information available. For example, since 2006, ETSAV have saved around € 30,000 per year; and the actions carried out in Campus Nord aimed at improving the management system, saved more than €70,000 in 2010.

On the other hand, it is currently under development a new web tool that will facilitate access to energy information for all UPC buildings.