Practice the Paso doble

The Swiss energy landscape is in flux. Nationally and internationally, this poses a wide range of demanding challenges for politics, the economy and society. Discussions and work on the prospects for Switzerland's energy future are currently underway at all levels. Efforts to reach a consensus on energy policy are being accompanied by strong reactions. In his New Year's address, SFOE Director Dr. Walter Steinmann expressly welcomed the "worthy opponents in the field of energy".

"Energy policy paso doble."

This year's motto for the New Year's occasion captures exactly the mood and intention of what the SFOE wants to focus on in 2013. The Paso doble is danced proudly with head held high. The essence of bullfighting is translated into posture and dance steps, spins, alternating steps and attacks. "Does this sound familiar?" asked Walter Steinmann to the audience. The similarities between the paso doble and energy policy were obvious, he said, even if energy policy sometimes lacked an ear for music. "But in 2013 we have the opportunity to develop a sense of rhythm and steps together, to practice them and bring them to perfection. So that we can internalize energy harmony and soon do the paso doble elegantly, energy-efficiently, and tournament-ready." Such harmony will be indispensable if the SFOE's most important business, the consultation process, is to be completed.

Find the rhythm

Energy Strategy 2050" consultation proposal to parliament. It is the Swiss response to the restructuring of the energy industry. "The scene is becoming more international, more volatile, more cost-conscious and more innovation-driven. In short, it is becoming more agile and getting ready for new rhythms," says Walter Steinmann.

In his view, it is important, among other things, to credibly present the market-oriented transformation as the basis of the Energy Strategy 2050 and to design the set of instruments accordingly. Market-driven processes should be supported for a limited period of time. And: because the knowledge and wealth of experience of engineers in the field of efficiency are crucial, the exchange of experience should also be supported internationally and awards should be given for top performance.

The Watt d'Or Awards 2013

The "Watt d'Or" is one of the BFE activities derived from Steinmann's intentions. The energy transition should not only be discussed, it should be acted upon. The prize winners create solutions that reconcile energy and environmental awareness with comfort requirements, aesthetics and economic interests. And with their innovations they demonstrate the practical benefits for us, for the economy and society, according to the SFOE.

The prestigious award is not endowed and there are no winner ranks. But the trophy, a heavy snow globe, is a seal of quality par excellence. "The Watt d'Or," says former National Councillor and jury member Yves Christen, "is to the energy industry what the Locarno Golden Leopard is to the film scene. All those who play their part in an exemplary manner on the road to the energy future are the true stars of the 2000-watt society. "Awards were presented in the following categories:

Company Services Industriels de Genève SIG

The Geneva energy utility is focusing on saving energy with the "éco21 electricity savings programme" and the "CPE energy performance contract". Energy efficiency is the most important, most available, most environmentally friendly and cheapest source of energy. For this reason, the SIG business model has been focusing on energy efficiency in purchasing and sales for five years. Customers save money through more efficient electricity consumption, SIG can dispense with the construction of costly new grids and power plants, and qualified new jobs are created for energy efficiency specialists. The energy market of the future à la genevoise: a model for success.

Energy Technologies Joulia SA, Biel

The "Joulia heat-recovering shower tray" recovers the heat and thus the energy from the outflowing shower water and uses it to pre-heat the cold fresh water. The result: less hot water is needed from the boiler, and the energy required for showering is reduced by over a third. Joulia looks very elegant. It replaces conventional shower trays and only requires the connection of the heat exchanger as an additional installation. The savings in hot water also have an impact on other systems in the house. Joulia: "The elegant energy revolution in the bathroom: a clean thing."

Energy technologies, special prize: Export Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG, Winterthur

The "suction tube ECOrized" energy-saving flap for ring spinning machines: It sounds complicated, but it is of captivating simplicity. The small plastic suction tube looks like a seahorse. Anyone holding it in their hand can hardly believe the effect it unleashes. Spinning machines are real energy guzzlers. With the new suction flap, the Rieter R+D team has succeeded in coming up with a clever idea: It reduces the energy consumption of their machines by ten percent at a stroke. According to the SFOE, this can save over six billion kilowatt hours of electricity worldwide. That is more than the annual consumption of the two cantons of Aargau and Solothurn. And all thanks to a small, easy-to-install plastic part! Every yarn producer can install the energy-saving flap himself using his own company mechanics and electricians.

Renewable energies

The jury did not select a winning project in this category this year. It explains that the very good competition entries only multiplied the projects awarded in previous years "by the dozen". The aim of the Watt d'Or, however, is to reward uniqueness and pioneering spirit.

Energy-efficient mobility PostBus Switzerland Ltd

The company is making a strong statement with its "fuel cell postbuses ". PostBus consumes 39 million litres of diesel every year to transport its 120 million passengers. That costs money and pollutes the environment. Reason enough for Swiss Post Auto AG to make its energy consumption consistently more efficient and environmentally friendly. With its five-year test operation with five fuel cell postbuses in the Brugg region, PostBus is heading off into the energy future right on time. "With this project, PostBus is demonstrating its expertise in putting new technologies on the ground," says Daniel Landolf, Head of the PostBus division at Swiss Post.

Category Buildings and Space CREDIT SUISSE AG, Zurich

With Uetlihof 2, the extension of its office complex in the south of the city of Zurich, which has been in existence since 1976, Credit Suisse is setting standards. The new building, with nine floors and 38,000 m2 of office space, is the largest Minergie-P-Eco building in Switzerland to date. It is certified with the "Good Indoor Climate" label and achieves the goals of the 2000-watt society by optimizing manufacturing energy (gray energy) and an environmentally friendly mobility concept. However, the focus of Uetlihof 2 is on people: the energy-saving, healthy building and the innovative smart working concept offer the 2,500 employees extremely attractive working conditions.

Green Datacenter AG, Brugg

In Lupfig in the canton of Aargau, the currently most modern and at the same time very energy-efficient Green Datacenter has been in operation since 2011: an international showcase for Swiss cleantech. This is because the data center relies on high-voltage direct-current technology from Switzerland's ABB. Thanks to the elimination of voltage conversion and waste heat losses, it consumes 20 percent less electricity, setting new standards. "We have a strong commercial interest in reducing the power consumption of our data center. It is an indispensable competitive advantage for us," says Franz Grüter, CEO of Green Datacenter AG.