Optimization of OBI
OBI is currently the second largest DIY (= do it yourself) dealer of building materials and supplies in Europe. The company has 580 branches across Europe, including 28 outlets in the Czech Republic. The OBI group, which collects one success after another, employs 42,000 people and has a yearly turnover of € 6.7 billion in 2013. The OBI Energy Audit
For OBI outlets, sometimes exceeding 10,000 square meters, spending on energy consumption is considerable and most of them are consumed for lighting, heating and, surprisingly, considerable funds are spent on water due to frequent topping. Managers of the Blueman store are the first to decide to address Enerfis with a request for energy optimization and associated austerity measures. OBI has been asked to disclose only non-costly measures and measures with a return within 3 years. Another requirement was not to include measures related to energy saving lighting.
As a first step, we conducted a detailed inspection during which all the technologies used in the shop were mapped. The information obtained during this inspection was then used as a basis for energy consumption analysis. The analysis included the use of an electrical network analyzer that revealed wasting on weekends.
Electricity has been the focal point of our attention in setting cost-saving and investment-friendly solutions. On the basis of the analysis, we proposed a total of 8 austerity measures that will result in a total saving of CZK 304,740 per year. Half of these were costly measures with almost instant or several months return. We have also introduced store managers to the principles of efficient energy management that will help them further improve energy efficiency and motivate employees.
From our point of view, this project was a challenge. Still, reducing the energy demand of an object, which is constructively equiped with a simpler character, is often much more difficult than optimizing the operation of modern commercial buildings. In addition, the client was asked to propose measures with return, so we consider 150,000, - CZK in costless savings for success.
