Energy-Consumption in the Service-Sector

In Austria 38 % of the final energy demand (419 PJ) are connected to the building sector – residential and tertiary sector together. Whereas the energy consumption of private households (26 % of the whole final energy consumption) is well documented and specified, there is only little information available about the energy use in service buildings. However, in order to elaborate appropriate instruments, to implement specific programmes for energy efficiency in this sector or to evaluate the effects of energy saving measures, detailed and structured information and data about the energy use are necessary. Only by using more detailed and clearly structured information, it is possible to estimate the total energy consumption of individual branches (eg: retail, hotels), to set adequate benchmarks (i.e.: kWh/m²a, kWh/employees, etc.) as well as to gather information about the kind of energy use. Especially for the definition of political energy (efficiency) instruments and whose implementation, trusted information about the energy usage is necessary. For instance, currently there are only estimations about the share of energy consumption for lighting or IT for offices, which hinders energy (efficiency) policy in this branch.

In order to receive detailed energy consumption data, up to 12,000 service companies should be asked about their annual energy consumption. This survey is the baseline for defining branche wide benchmarks. Further, the participating companies will be asked if they are interested to obtain an energy consulting and at best gain data from this consulting process. In a second step the types of energy uses will be analysed in order to provide information about the different kind of use (lighting, hot water, IT), the level of energy use and the time, when this energy is used. Three approaches in separate proceedings will be done, which are in a further step put together for a joint conclusion.

Energy audits

The results of the energy efficiency consulting activities of the Energy Institute of the Economy (EIW) are the baseline to analyse the kind of energy use in each branch. Detailed information from about 400 companies is expected. According to the involvement of the EIW, the results will be integrated in the consulting process again and is therefore directly relevant for the market.

Smart Meters Analysis

From about 200 companies – based on existing energy controlling and monitoring systems - the load profile of electricity and heat are analyzed and allocated to large consumers, which in addition are to be collected in the survey. The load profile gives information on the temporal distribution of the demand, which support conclusions about the kind of use.

Status Quo Survey

Existing literature about the energy consumption in the service sector will be analysed about existing benchmarks and the kind of energy use. Also larger chains (eg: hotel group ACOR, food chain SPAR) will be asked, to support the project with existing parameters.

The annual energy consumption should be analysed over the whole service sector and for about 16 to 18 branches. A deeper analysis will be made for the following segments:

• Hotels and B&Bs
• pubs and restaurants
• retail (Food and non Food)
• offices
• health care

The result of the project is a coherent description of the energy consumption in the tertiary sector depending on temporal demand and kind of usage. This will be a respectable data base for policy to define and implement energy efficiency strategies and instruments for the tertiary sector.