Business Unit Energy Efficiency Networks
Business Unit Leader: Dr. Dirk Köwener
Energy Efficiency Networks aim to reduce transaction costs of energy efficient measures by bringing together 10 to 15 regionally-based companies to exchange experiences and expert knowledge of environmental technologies- with a particular focus on so-called cross-cutting technologies (e.g. compressed air, lighting, air conditioning and so forth). Thus, from an environmental policy point of view, energy efficiency receives the designated level of priority in companies. Medium to large companies are approached with proposals, stipulating that their annual energy consumption should range from 150,000 € to 20 M €.
To guarantee the networks’ consistently-high standards, IREES is developing a management system - operating under the name LEEN (Local Energy Efficiency Networks) - with different partners responsible for the organization, supervision and technical support of these networks. This development is primarily based on a project financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Furthermore, IREES is instructing moderators and energy-technical consultants under LEEN’s trademark to enable them to independently operate future networks according to the management system. By the end of 2011 roughly 50 networks shall be established. Over the long-term, up to 700 are expected within Germany.
Scope of Performance
- Development and extension of the network management system according to the LEEN standard.
- Inititation of Energy Efficiency Networks with regards to the LEEN standard.
- Energy and CO2 targeting and monitoring of networks according to the LEEN standard.
- Training of LEEN moderators and energy-technical consultants with regards to the LEEN standard.
On-going projects
- Learning Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection Networks (30 pilot networks): Development of a management system and computer-based calculation tools, outlining energy saving potential and their profitability as well as the initiation and evaluation of 30 pilot networks.
Contractee: BMU, duration: 2008 - 2013 - Energy Efficiency Network Karlsruhe: Moderation and monitoring of Karlsruhe’s energy efficiency network as a component of the project involving 30 pilot networks.
Contractee: City of Karlsruhe, duration: 2009 - 2013 - Energy Efficiency Network Heilbronn-Unterfranken: Energy and CO2 targeting and monitoring.
Contractee: Modell-Hohenlohe e.V., duration: 2009 - 2013 - Energy Efficiency Network Nordschwarzwald: Energy and CO2 targeting and monitoring.
Contractee: Modell-Hohenlohe e.V., duration: 2008 - 2011 - Energy Efficiency Network Ost-Württemberg: Energy and CO2 targeting and monitoring.
Contractee: Modell-Hohenlohe e.V., duration: 2007 - 2011 - Energy Efficiency Network Hohenlohe: Technical and organizational innovation and monitoring.
Contractee: Modell Hohenlohe e.V., duration: 2007 - 2010 - Requests of various networks: Economic calculations, energy and CO2 targeting and so forth.
Completed projects
- Environmental communication and energy efficiency in SMEs: Development of a management system with the support of 5 networks.
Contractee: Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, duration: 2006 - 2009 - Energy Efficiency Network Ravensburg.
Contractee: EnBW AG, duration: 2008 - 2009 - Energy Efficiency Network Würzburg-Unterfranken: Energy and CO2 targeting and monitoring.
Contractee: Förderkreis Umweltschutz in Unterfranken e. V., duration: 2007 - 2009 - Energy Efficiency Network Südhessen: Phase 0, initiation of a network.
Contractee: Hessisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, duration: 2007 - Energy Efficiency Network Mitteldeutschland: Monitoring.
Contractee: EnBW AG, duration: 2006 - 2009
Important Cooperation Partners
- DIHK (Deutscher Industrie und Handelskammertag), Berlin
- EnBW AG, Karlsruhe
- EPROPLAN Beratende Ingenieure GmbH, Stuttgart
- Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft (Ffe), München
- Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI)
- Modell Hohenlohe e. V., Waldenburg
- ÖKOTEC Energiemanagement GmbH, Berlin
- Siemens AG, München




