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Energy expert Mark Iten (42, left) discusses the company’s energy budget with company owner Daniel Eugster (49).
BeatMichelreporter
When you pull up at the building technology company Eugster in Arbon TG, the view from the outside is already promising: the house walls and canopies are covered with transparent solar modules. Solar cells cast in glass produce electricity and at the same time let light into the house.
Energy expert Mark Iten (42) takes a critical look at the beginning of the tour. Together with Blick, he visits SMEs and private households. The aim is to explore the potential for saving energy. To find out where and with how much effort you can bring about a relevant reduction in electricity and heating costs.
Company assumes role model function
The Eugster company takes care of heating and the provision of hot water in households. Therefore, she has an interest in acting as a role model. “When visitors see that our products work, they are also more willing to buy energy-efficient components,” says owner and managing director Daniel Eugster (49). 20 years ago, the qualified sanitary technician took over the company from his parents. In 2016 he moved the company to the new building in Arbon.
At that time, the requirements were less strict and the electricity prices were much lower. Why did the FDP cantonal council still cover the roofs and one wall with as many solar cells as possible? Did he already have an inkling of today’s returns back then? He says: «It’s true, it’s making money today. But at the time there was a different thought behind it. A PV system creates identity. At that time we looked at five projects for the company building. The PV system was part of the winning plan. Overall, we liked it best.”
Black numbers thanks to green technology
The company’s good figures provide evidence that sustainability is not only good for the environment, but also for the wallet. Products and knowledge about energy-efficient heating, hot water and good drinking water are in demand like never before. “We are seeing good growth, especially in geothermal probes,” says boss Daniel Eugster.
But technical change continues. Haustechnik Eugster is working on even greater independence and a smaller ecological footprint. The managing director says: “We are now in the process of checking the suppliers. How energy efficient and environmentally friendly do they produce? How do we account for these emissions? We aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
Another major topic at the moment is electromobility. “We are currently testing what makes sense. So far we have converted a third of the fleet to electric vehicles. But we don’t yet know what consumption will look like,” says Daniel Eugster. Much is still unclear on the subject, and there are no proven solutions. There are considerations to use the vehicles as electricity storage for the solar system. But even for Haustechnik Eugster this is still a dream of the future.
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Haustechnik Eugster does it right
Energy expert Mark Iten has many words of praise. “It’s a model company in almost every area,” he says. “Even if the building is seven years old, the buildings and the machines still exceed all specifications today.”
- Photovoltaics: The system produces 155,000 kWh per year. The company consumes 100,500 kWh. It feeds the surplus into the public grid.
- The company can heat thanks to six geothermal probes. It doesn’t get any more energy efficient. The system can also cool in summer.
- The canopies are covered with transparent solar panels. This brings light into the building through the large windows. In summer, the shading provides a pleasant cooling effect.
- Thanks to the large warehouse, Haustechnik Eugster only receives a delivery once a week. The suppliers save so many truck kilometers.
- Uncomplicated, only small risk of failure
- The company has almost no fluctuation, the employees enjoy working for the company. Due to the high level of identification with the company, the workers are also more willing to save energy.
Energy expert Mark Iten has many words of praise. “It’s a model company in almost every area,” he says. “Even if the building is seven years old, the buildings and the machines still exceed all specifications today.”
- Photovoltaics: The system produces 155,000 kWh per year. The company consumes 100,500 kWh. It feeds the surplus into the public grid.
- The company can heat thanks to six geothermal probes. It doesn’t get any more energy efficient. The system can also cool in summer.
- The canopies are covered with transparent solar panels. This brings light into the building through the large windows. In summer, the shading provides a pleasant cooling effect.
- Thanks to the large warehouse, Haustechnik Eugster only receives a delivery once a week. The suppliers save so many truck kilometers.
- Uncomplicated, only small risk of failure
- The company has almost no fluctuation, the employees enjoy working for the company. Due to the high level of identification with the company, the workers are also more willing to save energy.
The Arbon-based company Haustechnik Eugster still has potential here
Haustechnik Eugster in Arbon TG has a high level of potential for optimizing the energy balance, says energy expert Mark Iten. But there is nothing to criticize, because the company has already tackled these aspects.
- The supply chains are checked for their ecological footprint. The aim is for the suppliers to be energy-efficient and CO2– produce neutral.
- Expand electromobility and optimize the control of the charging infrastructure. In the future, maybe use the batteries of the vehicles as storage for the PV system. At the moment, however, the necessary technology does not yet exist.
- Ongoing operational optimization of the systems. Temperatures, operating times and the coordination of the infrastructure with each other can at best only marginally improve efficiency or at least maintain it at the high level.
Haustechnik Eugster in Arbon TG has a high level of potential for optimizing the energy balance, says energy expert Mark Iten. But there is nothing to criticize, because the company has already tackled these aspects.
- The supply chains are checked for their ecological footprint. The aim is for the suppliers to be energy-efficient and CO2– produce neutral.
- Expand electromobility and optimize the control of the charging infrastructure. In the future, maybe use the batteries of the vehicles as storage for the PV system. At the moment, however, the necessary technology does not yet exist.
- Ongoing operational optimization of the systems. Temperatures, operating times and the coordination of the infrastructure with each other can at best only marginally improve efficiency or at least maintain it at the high level.