Viborg Municipality undertakes a very wide range of public services ranging from running libraries, schools and electricity/water/energy supplies to waste water management, waste management and collection, local taxation, building permissions, roads, healthcare, etc. for a population of 92,830 citizens (1 January 2009). The total size of the municipality is 1,422 km2 or 3.3% of the total size of Denmark. The annual budget is more than 500 million EUR. The municipality as an organisation has more than 7,000 employees and 52,000 people work in the municipality. 

 

One of the aims of Viborg Municipality’s common energy policy for the 420 municipality owned buildings is that the energy and water consumption per m2 is to be reduced by 5% by 2012 (compared to the 2006 consumption). By implementing energy and water reduction measures in the municipality’s schools and children’s day-care institutions in 2005 – 2006, Viborg Municipality reduced its electricity, water and heating costs by 135,000 EUR over a two year period.

 

Viborg Municipality has also, in an agreement with Elsparefonden (the Danish Energy Saving Trust), committed itself to reduce its electricity consumption (kWh/m2) with 1% each year or at least 5% before the end of 2012 (compared to the 2006 figures). The municipality will implement metre reading systems in all its buildings with central systems, establish an energy reduction pool, run behaviour campaigns and increase its focus on green procurement in accordance with the Energy Saving Trust’s procurement guidelines.

 

Viborg Municipality is currently in the process of building a new town hall which is due to be completed mid-2011. When completed, it will be a landmark building for the municipality.

 

The town hall’s 19,000 m2 will spread over six floors. The main part of the building is shaped like a large cube (55m x 55m and 25m high) with a central atrium.

 

From an energy efficiency perspective, the ambition is that the town hall, when completed, will comply with the Danish low energy class 2 and thus have a maximum energy consumption of 70.1 kWh/m2 per year.

 

The town hall, owned by the municipality, will house the municipality’s social services, citizens’ service centre, job centre, technical services, environmental services, a multi purpose conference room, etc. and will thus be a busy place with citizens and staff flowing through the building all day. It is anticipated that 800 municipal staff will be based at the new town hall and that approximately 250 citizens will visit the building daily. www.viborg.dk/nytraadhus.

Is responsible for the town hall in Viborg, Denmark where the replication of pilot R2 will take place. Viborg Municipality will also contribute to the definition of energy efficiency policies in Denmark. Further, Viborg Municipality has the policy power to transfer the solution to other buildings and lighting areas in Viborg and can, through its networks, transfer the project experience to other public organisations and private sectors at local, regional, national and European level, assuring a long term impact.