Affordable and Clean Energy

Annual electricity consumption for general and stage lighting has been reduced by about 40% over the past ten years, and the annual safety lighting electricity consumption has decreased tenfold. This has also been achieved by replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights, where 90% of the energy used is converted to light and only 10% is lost as heat. LED lights are made of ecologically sound materials, and have a long life span of up to 50,000 hours, which means less waste. Using LED lights also reduces cooling cost as they generate very little heat, which creates a cooler environment and less electrical energy for air-conditioning.

In addition to a cooling unit, Cankarjev dom makes use of a technology based on storing cooling capacity at night (Ice Bank) over the summer months. At night when electricity is generated at a lower cost, chillers cool fluid and store it normally as chilled water or ice. During the daytime when electricity is more expensive the chiller is turned off and the stored capacity is used to meet the cooling load requirements. In comprehensively modernizing our cooling systems, we have cut down electricity consumption and made an important step towards greater energy efficiency. At certain times of the year, for example, only accumulated cool air in ice storage facilities is used for air-conditioning.

Although our building, designed by Prof. Edvard Ravnikar, is more than four decades old, many new systems and technologies have been introduced that help to enhance energy efficiency, ensuring a more economical and greener operation. The building is being renovated in accordance with the guidelines for reducing electricity consumption, and the guidelines on green procurement are being followed in procuring electricity. The bulk of the energy consumed at Cankarjev dom goes towards heating, air-conditioning and ventilation of premises, and the rest is used in lighting and the operation of electrical devices that ensure the safety and well-being of visitors and employees.