The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building leads the way in energy savings
As part of its goal of reducing human-induced effects on the climate, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building is choosing to take the lead in efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. One of the ways it will do this is by committing itself to cutting the ministry's electricity use by 15% by the end of 2011.
Energy savings on the state level
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building's efforts to cut its CO2 emissions by reducing energy usage are part of the requirements set out in the Danish Energy Agency's 2005 energy efficiency guidelines for national government organisations, as well as national energy savings goals.
Those goals state that ministries must reduce their energy consumption by 5% in 2009 and 10% annually after that. In money terms, this means the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building needs to cut its expenses by 300,000 kroner in 2009 and by 700,000 kroner annually starting in 2010.
The efficiency guidelines set out by the Energy Agency require all national government organisations to be as energy efficient as possible. For the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building, this means reducing power and water use by:
- purchasing energy efficient products
- ensuring that all buildings owned and rented by the ministry are operated and maintained in an energy efficient manner
- ensuring ministerial agencies practice energy efficiency
Energy point of contact
In order to ensure that ministerial agencies are living up to the guidelines, the Energy Agency has named Energy Co-ordinators. An Energy Co-ordinator is an Energy Agency employee who is in regular contact with Energy Representatives.
Every government organisation has appointed its own Energy Representative, who is responsible for:
- ensuring that energy efficient products are purchased
- keeping track of agency energy use
- advice on energy efficient operations
- finding ways to reduce energy use
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building's Energy Co-ordinator is Jette Ellegaard Vejen, of the Energy Agency. The Energy Representative at the Office of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building is Hien Bønløkke Le. The specific duties of the Office's Energy Representative include purchasing and supervising operations. In terms of purchasing, the Energy Representative ensures that all power-consuming items live up to Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building efficiency guidelines.