Initial Situation

The building had a 323% oversizing of the heating capacity, which led to unnecessarily high fixed costs. Additionally, the lack of hydraulic balancing caused inefficient heat distribution and energy losses.

Objectives

The goal of the project was to optimize the oversized district heating system and reduce energy consumption.

• Reduction of district heating costs through reduction of the oversized connection capacity

• Hydraulic optimization of the heating system for uniform heat distribution

• Long-term efficiency increase through digital monitoring

Measures in Detail

• Adjustment of connection capacity:

  • Reduction of the delivered peak loads to lower the basic costs.

• Dynamic hydraulic balancing:

  • Regulation of the ball valves per floor to minimize distribution losses.

• Digital monitoring:

  • Continuous analysis of consumption to identify further savings potentials.

Results & Savings

• Optimized heating center: Dynamic hydraulic balancing of the heating system

• Reduction of system temperatures & savings: Adjustment of the heating curve to prevent overheating and lower the flow temperature. Expected energy savings: ~14% compared to previous years.

• Payback period of the Wohnio solution (after funding): Approximately 0.4 years.

• Expected CO₂ savings: ~16 tons annually.

Model Character & Outlook

The project demonstrated how district heating systems can be operated more efficiently through intelligent control and hydraulic optimization – without major structural interventions. The insights gained are to be transferred to further ÖSW buildings. Through continuous monitoring, further savings potentials will be unlocked long-term to sustainably shape heat supply.