TinaVienna

Saving energy methodically

Contracting scheme for energy saving in public buildings

The City of Vienna benefits in many ways from its long-standing experience with the energy saving contracting scheme. The City of Vienna's Contracting Department offers advice to the districts on improving the energy performance of buildings, takes care of all contracting procedures from tender to performance assessment and makes sure that savings are effected as agreed. Energy savings of up to 50 per cent are feasible.

Since 1997, the City of Vienna has engaged in contracting schemes for the financing of technical installations in buildings for the purpose of optimising energy saving. In-house technical facilities have a service life of approximately 25 years, after which they ought to be replaced. Under the energy-saving contracting scheme, expenses incurred by the improvement in the energy performance are re-financed from the energy savings within seven to 15 years, so that building owners need not make provision for extra capital outlays.

The contracting department of MA 34 - Building and Facility Management identifies public buildings in Vienna with a high thermal energy requirement, outdated heating systems and low energy index. Once it is established that rehabilitation is economically viable, best-value offers are identified by requesting bids under the energy contracting scheme. The contracting company installs and maintains the technical facilities, e.g. the heating system, throughout the contracting period and guarantees achievement of the agreed energy savings. MA 34 gives advice to building owners and manages the contracting procedure, e.g. by adjusting the agreed energy savings, whenever alterations are made to the building or its use (baseline adjustment). This is designed to ensure that all agreements are honoured and that properly maintained installations will be available also beyond the actual contracting period. Clearly defined processes, precisely worded contracts and detailed account settlement regimes as well as contractual penalties for missed deadlines are critical elements of the contracting scheme.

In 2007, MA 34 redesigned and substantially upgraded the energy-saving contracting scheme. The contractor is now obligated to perform specified mandatory tasks and knows exactly what basic requirements are to be met. These modifications facilitate handover of the installations to MA 34 at the end of the contracting period. Pooling tenders for energy-saving retrofits of several buildings increases the total order size and thus the chances of finding a competent contractor. The contracting scheme is especially viable if building complexes have energy indices higher than 100 kWh/annum, and if the amounts to be invested are in the range of EUR 50,000. The absence of fixed project periods permits more flexible contract design, since not every component needs to be financed over the same period. The introduction of an open procedure - bid matching tender requirements equal contract - has made special agreements on the awarding of assignments under the contracting scheme superfluous.

MA34_02_Energy Contracting  

• Picture gallery
• Project summary (pdf)
• Overview Vienna Know-how
 

 

Contact
DI (FH) Volker Schaffler
Tel. +43 1 4000 84269
Fax +43 1 4000 7997
volker.schaffler@tinavienna.at

 

Links

• Municipal Department 34 – Building and Facility Management
• German Facility Management Association (GEFMA)