Energy and operating cost savings in municipal buildings

Current situation

Municipalities and local authorities are under increasing pressure to reduce energy and operating costs, meet climate protection targets and operate public buildings more cost-effectively.

In many cases, however, there is little visibility into when, where and why energy is consumed. Consumption data is often available only on a monthly or annual basis. As a result, equipment malfunctions, unnecessary heating and water losses often go undetected until much later.

Buildings particularly affected include schools, town halls and administrative buildings, nurseries and kindergartens, sports halls and multipurpose halls, municipal maintenance depots, fire stations, and community centres and other municipal buildings.

Savings potential

Municipal energy management is a key driver of cost efficiency. Studies and practical experience show that greater visibility, measurement and operational optimisation can deliver significant results, often without major refurbishment.

• Schools — 10 to 20%, around 20% with IoT-supported optimisation. Main drivers: heating, ventilation, occupancy, CO₂.

• Town halls and administrative buildings — 10 to 20%. Main drivers: operating hours, base load, room temperature.

• Nurseries — 10 to 20%. Main drivers: heating, indoor climate, water.

• Sports halls and multipurpose halls — 15 to 25%. Main drivers: ventilation, hot water, varying usage patterns.

• Municipal building portfolio — typically 10 to 20%. Main drivers: monitoring, optimisation, fault detection.

Sources: UBA, Climate Protection Potential in Municipalities; ThEGA, Energy Management in Municipalities; Mylonas et al. / GAIA; dena Competence Centre for Energy Contracting.

LoRaWAN as a starting point for municipalities

workcloud24 uses LoRaWAN-based energy monitoring. LoRaWAN is a wireless technology for sensors, offering long range and low power consumption. It is particularly suitable for existing municipal buildings because sensors can be installed without extensive cabling.

The following can be measured and monitored:

• Electricity, heat and water consumption

• Room temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels and air quality

• Window and door status

• Occupancy and usage

• Leaks and equipment operating status

This data provides a continuous picture of building operations. It enables the municipality to identify which buildings show anomalies, where unnecessary costs arise and which measures have the greatest impact.

Benefits for municipalities

Municipal energy monitoring supports public administration, policymakers and building management alike.

Economic benefits. Reduced energy and operating costs, early detection of equipment malfunctions, prevention of unnecessary consumption peaks, better maintenance and investment planning, and targeted prioritisation of refurbishment projects.

Organisational benefits. Less manual meter reading, better data for municipal building, finance and building management departments, transparent information to support decisions by municipal councils and committees, and a reliable basis for funding applications and planning measures.

Climate benefits. Measurable CO₂ reductions, support for municipal heat planning, data for energy and climate protection reports, and a visible contribution to municipal climate targets.

Ideal buildings for initial implementation

Buildings with high consumption, varying usage patterns or limited visibility into consumption data are particularly suitable for a practical starting point. Typical pilot buildings include a school, a town hall or administrative building, a sports hall, a nursery, a municipal maintenance depot, or a small portfolio of two to five municipal buildings.

Initial consumption patterns, anomalies and opportunities for optimisation can become visible within just a few weeks.

Project approach with no upfront fees

To make it easy for municipalities to get started, workcloud24 offers an initial assessment, cost analysis and estimate of savings potential with no upfront fees and no obligation to proceed.

• No upfront costs for the municipality

• No obligation to commission further work

• Initial analysis of existing energy and operating cost data

• Identification of suitable pilot buildings

• Estimation of potential savings

• A proposal for an appropriate project scope

• A basis for decisions by public administration, the mayor, municipal council or committees

The municipality then decides, based on this analysis, whether to proceed with a pilot project.

Conclusion

Reducing energy and operating costs in municipal buildings starts with transparency. Measurement brings insight. Insight enables control. Control delivers savings.

LoRaWAN-based energy monitoring offers municipalities a fast, cost-efficient and scalable starting point for modern building management. Schools, administrative buildings, sports halls and other public properties offer tangible opportunities to reduce ongoing costs and support municipal climate targets.