Installations halved energy consumption

Vehicle products retailer Biltema in Moss, Norway was facing a big challenge: how to reduce energy consumption in both its store and warehouse. Once Lillehammer-based Instalco company Haug og Ruud AS had replaced old technology with new, Biltema’s energy consumption at the site halved.

Biltema engaged Haug og Ruud to carry out a comprehensive renovation project for its store and warehouse, which had been built in 2005. The energy savings were achieved by converting heating and cooling from electricity to water-based energy via heat pumps and geothermal wells/ground source heating. 
Virtually all the electrical installations for heating and cooling were converted to new water-based solutions, including new pipe installations, ventilation plant, hot-air fans and fan coil units in the store room and by the entrance. 

Biltema’s Moss store now has energy-efficient heating and cooling using ventilating air and hot-air fans with fan coil units. 

“The aim of installing ground source heating was to reduce energy consumption by at least 30–40 percent. But it was even better than that: around 40–50 percent, and on some days more than 60 percent lower consumption,” says Stefan Axemark, property manager at Biltema in Moss.

Specialises in energy efficiency improvements
Haug og Ruud, which has 23 employees, specialises in energy efficiency improvements and carries out turnkey projects within heating, plumbing and ventilation as well as control technology and automation. However, Haug og Ruud also undertakes many installations in connection with new construction projects and at large energy centres with geothermal wells. In contrast to many other heating, plumbing and ventilation firms, Haug og Ruud goes beyond its conventional role and suggests changes – thereby acting simultaneously as consultant and supplier. 

“We’ve changed the traditional way of doing things. Instead of being a subcontractor, we take responsibility for the entire project as turnkey contractor. As we have the technical expertise, it makes sense for us to be in the driving seat. And our customers appreciate our proactive approach to delivering solutions.” says Sigbjørn Dalseghagen, CEO at Haug og Ruud.

Haug og Ruud acts as a construction firm with a turnkey contract, bringing in subcontractors for work in areas outside its own area of expertise, for example site preparation, painting and floor-­laying. The firm’s way of working requires both depth and breadth of skills – something it has built up over the years and passes on to all its employees on an ongoing basis.

“Our way of working sets us apart, because there aren’t many other companies in our industry that work as we do.” 

Long term partnership
The Biltema project is an example of proactivity in practice, with Haug og Ruud showing how much they can bring down energy costs relative to the size of the investment. Haug og Ruud has been working with Biltema since 2017, from its first new construction project in Lillehammer to three other new builds in Gjøvik, Vinstra and Gol, as well as providing energy efficiency improvements at a facility in Mjøndalen and the project in Moss.

“One of our ongoing assignments involves replacing the heat recovery system at Biltema Tiller in Trondheim. Biltema sets high requirements and wants to build with quality. For us, this is really positive and makes it easier for us to deliver a good end product.”