Country
Spain
Entity
City of San Sebastian
Location
Donostia – San Sebastian
Identification of
the Best Practice
Education and training for energy efficient building users in Paco Yoldi Sports Centre
Main area
Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Summary
Paco Yoldi Sports Centre was one of the pilot projects within the BEST Energy project, which
main goal was to improve energy efficiency in public buildings, and to provide decision makers
with the necessary tools to be able to plan energy saving measures.
Except implementation of energy efficiency technical measures, very important factor was to
improve users behaviour, promote energy saving and improve building management. One of
the biggest barriers was to improve the sensitivity of the users due to their perceptive that
energy savings are equal to loss of comfort. This obstacle could be overcome only by quality
education and required knowledge.
Target Group
Description
Three target groups were detected:
1. Visitors – customers who use actively the installation;
2. Technicians – employees in charge of the maintenance;
3. Employees – personnel working in the installations (receptionists, administrative staff,
cleaning personnel, monitors).
Paco Yoldi Sports centre consists of several conjoined buildings used for swimming, gym,
shooting, ball games etc. Average number of visitors per year is around 400.000, and total area
is 13.649 m2. It was built in 1964 and renovated in 2004.
The saving of energy consumption was accomplished by two strategies: technical measures –
innovative technologies and non-technical measures – social interventions in order to raise
awareness and provide required knowledge for rational energy use. After the audit of the
Building several improvements were implemented related to heating, cooling and lighting
system (optimization of the boiler performance; optimization of schedule of the air conditioner,
ventilator and cogeneration; reduction of swimming pool water renovation).
More important were non-technical measures which covered promotion of energy saving
behaviour. Survey and qualitative interviews were base for assessment about general
consumption habits, level of comfort and attitudes regarding energy saving. Several workshops
adapted for each target group were organized to raise awareness about rational use of energy,
motivate them to monitor the energy and water consumption, raise feeling of responsibility and
detect potentials of savings. An important users group are, also, pupils who visit the swimming
courses. Trainers, lifeguards and monitors employed in the Sports centre have received special
information about how to arise awareness among children. For the general public and visitors
all informations were available on public website, giant screen placed in the Building hall, from
information tent located in the City Centre, leaflets, press releases and international conference.
Date
February 2009 – June 2012
Technical
Aspects
The technical measures that were taken were based on a study. Several electric, heat, gas and
water meters were installed for measuring different electrical energy consumption. Received
results initiated technical investments and installation of ICT System (Information and
communication technology), which enabled monitoring of building functions.
 Optimization of boilers performance by adjusting the combustion
 Optimization of the performance of smokes recovery effecting cleanliness
 Optimization of the schedule of the air conditioner
 Optimization of the schedule of the cogeneration
 Optimization of the schedule of the ventilator
Reduction of swimming pool water renovation
Implementation
approach
followed
Economic
aspects
Results
Risks/Difficulties
The developed intervention strategy is phased in following steps:
1. Analysis – concerning a specific behaviour of target-groups (questionnaire, survey);
2. Initiation –contact with the target group and raise of their awareness;
3. Deliberation – conduction of intervention by work group and the initiators;
4. Evaluation of strategy success.
Different communication strategies were used between implementation entities and staff.
Public website, newsletters and TV screen displayed the progress, details about technical
measures and comparative graphs of energy consumption. The project was presented at
international conference and in two information tents located in the City centre.
After implementing the monitoring and verifying system, it was necessary to establish a
maintenance program and define a protocol of action in order to correct the possible problems
quickly. For this reason, workshops were organized.
Investment cost for technical and non-technical measures was 117.404 €. This value consist
from hardware investment – 23.449,23 €, software licence – 2.580,10 €, installation costs
(personnel cost + subcontract) – 72.038,5 €, design experts – 19.336,55 €.
Payback time of expended funds is 3,65 years.
Energy Savings Goal: 12%
Energy Savings Achieved: 9,77%
Energy cost saving: 32.138€
CO² emissions savings: 11,64%
Due to human actions and technical measures reductions were visible in heating (-1,31%),
cooling (-5,6%), electricity (-17,23%) and primary energy consumption (-9,77%). Also, final
survey showed changes in behaviour 44,1% of users.
To avoid setbacks and mistakes in the implementation process, it is highly recommended to
check and define boundary conditions under which the project will be implemented. This means
to define and discuss project limitations in the beginning of the project with stakeholders and
key actors (management and maintenance staff, employees, users). The clear and
understandable definition of the project conditions and a transparent project management
should be promoted and discussed with decision makers and other key actors.
Photos
Additional
Documents
Links
Contact Person
BEST Energy Project – Final report
http://www.bestenergyproject.eu/media_publicaciones/Best%20Energy_Final%20Publishable%
20Report_57.pdf
http://www.bestenergyproject.eu/?improving-the-energy-efficiency-inbuildings&Z=ffd306ba83752ff0
http://www.bestenergyproject.eu/media_publicaciones/D4_1%20Guidelines%20and%20best%
20practices_38.pdf
Fomento de San Sebastian - http://www.bestenergyproject.eu/?contact&Z=098776f34ff66f3f