Croatia: two first places – four winners
During the summer months of 2022, Croatian Energy Scouts diligently prepared their energy efficiency projects. On September 1, they presented their projects virtually in front of a jury of experts. The jury consisted of experts from politics and economy: Boris Draženović from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia, Ivana Lajtman, Dipl. Ing. – Mechanical Engineering at Viessmann Hrvatska d.o.o. and Tomislav Stašić, Dipl. Ing. – Mechanical Engineering at Idea2Projekt.
Many of the presented projects included saving measures from the areas of lighting, photovoltaic systems, energy management, compressed air systems and water consumption. Among them, the expert jury selected the three and four best projects, respectively, as two teams qualified for and shared the first place. The award ceremony was realized with everyone in person on September 27.
The first winning team from Robert Bosch Croatia, Danica Katičić, Petra Morović and Ana Plavša from the Human Resources Department developed a practical project for adjusting and reducing electricity consumption using time-switch devices. The practical project of the second winner, Josip Ugarković from the company Steam Tech d.o.o., uses insulation jackets for valves.
Second place went to Dario Lovretić from the company Multinorm d.o.o. whose practical project involves the use of LED lighting and the installation of photovoltaic systems (For more info see our Best Practice on the project). Third place went to the team from the company Dilj d.o.o. – Mario Bičanić, Igor Dodig, Ivan Marijanović, Mihael Pinjušić and David Žgela. The Energy Scouts proposed four saving measures for their company: installation of a PV system, modernization of lighting, and replacement of the compressed air station and vacuum pump.
Other Energy Scout teams participated from the companies BELMET97, Harburg-Freudenberger Belišće, Komunalac Vukovar, Saponia d.d., Selk, Osijek-Koteks, Naturala and the Koprivnica School of Crafts and also successfully presented their practical projects.
Czech Republic: sustainable establishment of the Energy Scout trainings
As one of the Young Energy Europe countries “of the first hour”, the fifth cohort in the Czech Republic completed its training on October 20, 2022. The training offer was very well received by Czech companies and the demand was high. With a number of participants of 30 Energy Scouts, the AHK Czech Republic successfully mastered the sustainable establishment of the Energy Scout Trainings in 2022.
The event took place in the dome of the AHK headquarters in Prague. Besides the Energy Scouts, the participants consisted of two representatives from the Czech Ministry of Environment, Pavel Zámyslický and Lukáš Minařík, the four jury members and some partners of the AHK. Before the ceremonial handover of the certificates, the two representatives of the Ministry of Environment gave short presentations on current challenges in the field of climate protection and energy and on state financing of projects. Pavel Roman from the Public Affairs department of Bosch Group CZ and SK and Lukáš Mistr, Head of Value Engineering, ŠKODA AUTO a.s., reported on climate protection and sustainable innovations of their companies.
Energy Scout Jiří Vyskočil from PYROTEK CZ, s.r.o. achieved to win the first place with his practical project on waste heat utilization for production of cold water followed by the three-person team consisting of Lucie Křehlíková, Michal Vítek and Quang Luong from the company Asahi CE & Europe Services s.r.o., who developed a system of tracking barrels to increase their circularity. Third place was shared by Jan Dvořák and Radek Šnejda from MADETA, a.s. with Tomáš Ihnát and Oto Brabec from ŠKO-ENERGO, s.r.o. who each developed a practical project in the field of cooling and water consumption.
Slovakia: 28 new Energy Scouts from 11 companies
In Slovakia, the best practical projects were selected on November 3, 2022 in the premises of the German Embassy in Bratislava. With 28 Energy Scouts from eleven companies, the second cohort successfully completed their training.
In her welcoming speech, German Ambassador Barbara Wolf pointed out the necessity of energy savings and energy efficiency and underlined the positive effect of Energy Scouts. Through the practical projects they help their companies to use resources efficiently and to save costs and energy, thus contributing to reaching climate neutrality.
Renáta Valeková, chairwoman of the Dual Academy and member of the board of AHK Slovakia praised the personal motivation of the participants to join Young Energy Europe and wished them an early implementation of the planned practical projects.
The first place was won by the Energy Scout team of Slovnaft a.s. with a practical project on the reduction of waste generated and waste separation in administrative buildings. Second and third place went to Energy Scouts from VSE Holding and Robert Bosch Slovakia s.r.o, each with a measure on electricity and CO2 savings and effective use of compressor running and air distribution replacement. In addition, a special prize was awarded to LeitnerLeitner Audit SK s.r.o for the identification and implementation of ESG measures within the company and another to GeWiS Slovakia s.r.o for a sustainability report.
Congratulations to all winners and Energy Scouts in Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia!
©BARBORA CHOLKOVÁ / AHK Slowakei
