Sustainability Report 2012 - Generali Versicherung AG

To this end, environmentally friendly criteria are applied wheneverpossible, with special attention focused on energy saving, limitinggreenhouse gas emissions and on the materials used. In termsof heating and cooling systems, wherever possible attempts aremade to use environmentally efficient technologies such as ceilingor under-floor systems (Germany) or direct expansion systems,such as heat pumps (Italy and Germany).The majority of the Group’s sites have energy or sustainabilityassessment certification; in some cases the possibility ofcertifying some materials used for construction/refurbishment isalso evaluated. For example, in Austria the majority of buildingshave Energieausweis energy certification attesting to the energyperformance of the building, while in France the majority of siteshave High-Quality Environmental certification (HQE).In recent years there has also been greater use of buildingenvelopes and other energy saving solutions such as insulationand thermal doors. In many offices in all countries, movementsensors or clocks/timers have been installed to control the turningon and off of lights and heating and cooling systems.In all countries, except Switzerland, it is now common practice toreplace used light bulbs with energy saving light-emitting diodes.Elsewhere, LED lighting systems have been partially introduced atsome sites, guaranteeing significant advantages over traditionallight sources such as greater reliability, high efficiency and alonger life.In Italy, France, Germany and Switzerland, various steps have beentaken to reduce the amount of electricity consumed by the DPCmachines. More specifically, in France the cold corridor system isused which requires the machines to be set up in a line so that onlythe corridor has to be cooled and not the entire room. In Switzerland,the DPC has been completely restructured with the latest ITequipment introduced in an effort to increase capacity and securitywhile reducing consumption. To this end, the Technische SanierungSood Adliswil (TSSA) project was launched in Switzerland to reusethe heat produced by IT equipment - which would otherwise bedispersed into the atmosphere - using a heat pump system. Duringthe winter months this system allows for savings of up to 75% innatural gas consumption for heating purposes.Initiatives to reduce energy consumption in 2012CountryItaly, AustriaItaly, GermanyItaly, GermanyItaly, France,GermanyItaly, FranceItalyType of initiativeIntroduction of LED lighting at the Mogliano Veneto complex with forecasted savings of 668,000 kWh ayear, and in some buildings in Vienna.Installation of systems for measuring electricity, natural gas and water in various directly-used andpartially-owned properties in order to continuously monitor the performances of the buildings andtake prompt action in the event of any anomalies.Optimisation of energy consumption in the DPC’s with the introduction of new, less energy-intensivemachines and the switch to new virtualisation systems. These systems also make it possible tomanage the surfaces and the spaces dedicated to the DPC’s more efficiently.Increase in thin client workstations, whereby all users use the same server with estimated energysavings of 10%.Switching off of servers and thin client workstations outside of working hours.A natural gas-powered trigeneration plant is currently being developed at the Mogliano Venetocomplex (launch scheduled for April 2013 with the first 1.5 MW motor) which will make it possibleto produce combined power, heating and cooling energy. The plant will meet all of the energyrequirements of the building, equal to 18 GWh (11 GWh of which for the DPC), with annual savingsof 5.4 GWh.ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE | 127