Velux reported that its roof window production facility in the Danish town of Østbirk has reached a “near zero” CO2 emissions level. By switching from natural gas to a bioboiler and cooperating with the local district heating system, the plant has reduced its annual emissions by 930 tonnes.
The key measure was the implementation of the Design for Zero programme, which focuses on ensuring that manufacturing processes, equipment, and their connection to energy systems at the facilities are always designed in an integrated way, with maximum possible energy efficiency in mind. The factory exchanges heat with Østbirk District Heating Company: in winter it receives heat, while in summer it feeds surplus back into the network for the local community.
Installing the bioboiler also greatly simplified the process of disposing of wood chips, which had previously been a cumbersome task requiring significant administrative effort. Burning wood waste on site and selling excess heat to district heating has also turned into a positive business case.
The new complex has reduced electricity consumption by around 1 million kWh per year, equal to the consumption of about 200 households. In addition, 889,000 kWh of heat has been recovered.
The company states that by 2030 it plans to fully eliminate its own emissions without using offsets and to cut supply chain emissions by half.
Earlier, Rehau Window Solutions announced the installation of a photovoltaic system at its plant in Poland.
Photo: VELUX Group
Østbirk Bygningsindustri, where Velux roof windows are manufactured
Velux factory reaches near zero emissions level in Denmark
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