PetrSU students took part in the "Green School" of the KA 5041 project

On September 22, 2021, students and teachers of groups 51302 and 45401 of the Institute of Forest, Mining and Construction Sciences got acquainted with the complex of works carried out within the framework of the project of the Karelia Cross-border Cooperation Program KA5041 "Green Nature Based Solutions in Tourism to reduce negative impact on the environment" in the Urozero educational and wellness center - a pilot facility where mechanisms and technologies of energy and resource conservation in the field of tourism were tested.

Project manager Sergey Koshelev said that before the work was completed electricity costs of the "Urozero" center exceeded 2 million roubles a year. To make a decision on the necessary innovations, an energy audit was conducted, which included thermal imaging surveys of buildings and heating mains, the installation of electric meters in each building, the search for possible electricity losses from unauthorized use. The proposals of a number of experts in the field of energy and resource conservation were taken into account and the cost of possible technical solutions was calculated to determine their economic feasibility. Thus, it was decided that an integrated approach was needed, covering 4 segments: heating, lighting, water supply and sanitation, reducing energy loss with a focus on lowering the negative impact on the environment.

Technical solutions for heating systems:

In two cottages, electric heaters were replaced with centralized heating in the building from electric boilers with a capacity of 14.5 kW each. The experience of operating a new heating system in the winter of 2020-2021 showed a reduction in electricity consumption by more than 35%.

Two heat pumps (air-to-air) with a capacity of 1.5 kW and 3.3 kW in a cafe and one of the cottages will reduce electricity costs by 30-35% in the coming winter.

In the cafe building, the radiators and pipelines to them were replaced with new ones with the possibility of thermal regulation, which increased the comfort for visitors.

Technical solutions for lighting systems

In the conference hall, the ceiling incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps and lamps have been replaced with LED ones, which is important not so much to save electricity, but to reduce the danger to the environment from the use of mercury-containing lamps.

Technical solutions for water supply and sanitation systems

Heating cables are installed in cold water pipelines instead of heating them in winter with hot water pipelines. As a result, heating costs have significantly decreased. In addition, due to the deterioration of the cold water supply system, cold water pipelines with low throughput were partially replaced. This made it possible to reduce the cost of operating pumping equipment and improve the quality of water supply.

Technical solutions for reducing energy loss

To reduce energy loss, an automatic temperature control system was installed in the heating system of guest houses, which allows significantly reducing costs at a time when the houses are not in operation or when the street temperature fluctuates.

In the cafe, energy costs have decreased by more than 50% as a result of replacing the old powerful electric stove with a small energy-efficient one.

According to the results of the thermal imaging study, the elements of the roof and walls of buildings, window openings and doors were insulated, which allowed to reduce heat loss.

Already in 2020, electricity costs in the "Urozero" center decreased by 800,000 roubles compared to 2019. Thanks to technical solutions, the comfort for residents has increased, there are no fines from supervisory authorities. And most importantly, all the innovations contribute to the preservation of the unique lake, on the shore of which the pilot facility is located.

From student reviews:

"The final seminar and a trip to Urozero showed what "green technologies" are, gave food for thought. I am happy with the time spent and grateful to the project."

"The project is very important for the environment, "green technologies" is a step forward for the development of resource-saving technologies"

"Green technologies" are expensive, but with their long-term use they pay off and will bring material benefits, but most importantly-benefit the environment."

"The project has shown the importance of "green technologies" that contribute to the environment. By spending resources economically, these technologies help to save money."