On September 9, 2020, the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBIHK) invited Energy Scouts from all over Bulgaria to this year’s Energy Scout Award Ceremony. For the third consecutive year, the participating Energy Scouts could present their projects and learn from other Energy Scouts. At the hybrid event, which took place both online and offline, the jury honored five Energy Scout projects.
The main prize for energy efficiency was awarded to ABB Bulgaria EOOD’s Petrich branch. Atanas Milev and Ivan Lazarov convinced the jury with their project for the construction of a 30 kWp photovoltaic system for internal consumption. The Energy Scouts calculated annual savings of 37,702 kWh electricity and 32.24 tons of CO₂ emissions with an amortization period of 6.5 years.
The special prize “Social Effect” was awarded to the team from BTB Bulgaria AD and their project to improve energy efficiency in the company. Energy Scouts Velizar Bonev, Simeon Mihov and Oral Osman showed how changing to LEDs in the company can contribute to annual savings in lighting of 501 kWh electricity and 67.13 tons of CO₂ emissions. The amortization period is 12.6 months. Alexandra Dimitrova and Arlin Ovanes from the team of the law firm Dr. Maya Neidenova received the “Environmental Awareness” award. The Energy Scouts convinced the jury with their project to increase energy efficiency in the office by replacing existing office equipment with efficient, multifunctional devices. Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD Varna received the special “Green Future” award for the construction of a photovoltaic system in the maintenance building at Varna Airport. Energy Scouts Alexander Zarchev, Martin Markov and Lyubomir Stavrev calculated annual savings of 106,100 kWh electricity and 90.72 tons of CO₂ emissions with an amortization period of 6.5 years.
This year for the first time, the jury awarded a special individual award to the youngest of all Energy Scouts participating since 2018: Yoan Filev, 19 years old and Energy Scout from Stimex OOD, won with a project to optimize the energy consumption of the heating system. By replacing electric heaters with natural gas heating systems, annual savings of 45.71 tons of CO₂ emissions can be achieved with an amortization period of 3.7 years.
Among the guests of the ceremony was Boryana Kamenova, Director of Climate Protection Policy in the Ministry of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria. Another special guest was the climbing record holder Dr. Atanas Skatov, who is a crop protecting agronomist and actively involved in nature conservation. He invited the winners of the last three years to visit him in Pirin’s natural scenery to further discuss the topics of environmental protection and climate impacts with him.
