Wihlborgs

E.ON and the weekly business magazine Veckans Affärer presented last week Sweden's top energy-efficiency award – the E-prize – to those companies that had best succeeded in rationalising their energy consumption and thereby contributing to a more sustainable Sweden. In the Large Company category, Wihlborgs was one of six finalists and the only property company to get through to the final.

How did Wihlborgs reach the final?

"We have worked for several years with energy-improvement projects where major savings have been realised", says Anders Jarl, CEO of Wihlborgs. "One example is a property that used 280 MWh per year in electricity. We invested in new technology that is steered by the physical presence of people. This resulted in a fall in the property's annual electricity consumption to 138 MWh. The saving is equivalent to the energy used by seven private homes."

Wihlborgs' environmental manager Hanna Claesson says: "I work together with our operations manager Jan Larsson, who monitors the energy data daily and reacts immediately if something is not right. We also have an energy statistics program where we can follow improvements, and even see where the efficiency measures have the best impact. Another important aspect is our committed and skilled property caretakers who often detect potential energy improvements."

"At Wihlborgs, we constantly work to reduce the energy consumption of our properties. The Green Building concept is an absolute requirement with new projects, although the major potential is to be found in property management."

Hanna Claesson and Jan Larsson were present in Stockholm on May 20 when the finalists in the Large Company category were presented, and the winner declared. Hanna continues: "Unfortunately, we did not win this time, but it is a great honour to have been the only property company in Sweden to have been chosen as finalist. I would also like to emphasise that about 100 companies in total were nominated to the award in 2010."