Green technologies in tourism on the example of Urozero educational center

Head of the Russian office of the Karelia Cross-Border Cooperation Program D.V. Bazegsky visited the pilot facility of the project KA 5041 “Green technologies in tourism to reduce the negative impact on the environment”, located in Urozero.
D.V.Bazegsky got acquainted with the complex of works carried out within the framework of the project of the Karelia Cross-Border Cooperation Program KA5041 “Green technologies in the field of tourism to reduce the negative impact on the environment” in the educational and health center “Urozero” – a pilot facility where the mechanisms were tested and technologies of energy and resource saving in the field of tourism.

Project manager S.N. Koshelev said that before the work was completed, electricity costs exceeded 2 million rubles a year. To make a decision on the necessary innovations, an energy audit was carried out, which included thermal imaging surveys of buildings and heating mains, the installation of electricity meters on each building, and a search for possible losses of electricity from unauthorized use. The proposals of a number of experts in the field of energy and resource conservation were listened to and calculations of the cost of possible technical solutions were carried out to determine their economic feasibility. Thus, it was decided to apply an integrated approach, covering 4 segments: heating, lighting, water supply and sanitation, reducing energy losses with a focus on reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Technical solutions for heating systems

As a result of the work carried out in the fall of 2020 and in the spring-summer of 2021, the replacement of electric heaters in two cottages (with an area of ​​200 sq. M. Each) with centralized heating from an electric boiler (2 boilers with a capacity of 14.5 kW). The experience of operating a new heating system in the winter of 2020-2021 showed a reduction in electricity consumption by more than 35%.

In the summer of 2021, two heat pumps (air-to-air) with a capacity of 1.5 kW and 3.3 kW were installed in a cafe and one of the cottages, which in the coming winter will reduce electricity costs by 30-35%.

In the cafe building in the summer of 2021, the radiators and pipelines to them were replaced with new ones with the possibility of thermoregulation, which will increase the comfort for visitors.

Technical solutions for lighting systems

During the renovation of the conference room, ceiling lamps and fluorescent lamps and luminaires were replaced with LED lamps, which is important not so much to save energy as to reduce the environmental hazard from the use of mercury-containing lamps.

Technical solutions for water supply and sewerage systems

Heating cables are installed in cold water pipelines instead of heating them in winter with hot water pipelines. As a result, heating costs have been significantly reduced. In addition, due to the deterioration of the cold water supply system, the cold water pipelines with low flow capacity were partially replaced. This made it possible to reduce the cost of operating pumping equipment and improve the quality of water supply.

At the biological treatment plants, aeration pumps were replaced with more efficient ones, which increased the degree of wastewater treatment. Also, to improve the quality of wastewater biological treatment, special bacteria were purchased. This is important because the Urozero educational center is located in the water protection zone. The absence of fines from inspection organizations also has a positive effect on the economy of the Urozero educational center.

In the summer of 2021, a Biolan compost toilet was installed for tourists renting a gazebo, where peat is used as a filler. This toilet is easy to use both in summer and winter. The advantages of a dry toilet are: saving water and electricity, no need for wastewater treatment, no smell, reuse of biologically significant nutrients as a basis for growing ornamental plants.

Technical solutions to reduce energy losses

To reduce energy losses, an automatic temperature control system was installed in the heating system of guest houses, which can significantly reduce costs at a time when the houses are not used (no visitors) or when the outdoor temperature fluctuates.

In the cafe, electricity costs have dropped by more than 50% as a result of replacing an old powerful electric stove with a small energy efficient one.

Based on the results of the thermal imaging study, elements of the roof and walls of buildings, window openings and doors were insulated, which made it possible to reduce heat loss.

In 2020, the cost of electricity at the Urozero educational center decreased by 750,000 rubles compared to 2019. Thanks to technical solutions, the comfort for residents has increased, there are no fines from supervisory authorities. And most importantly, all innovations contribute to the preservation of the unique lake, on the shore of which the pilot facility is located,

– said the project manager S.N. Koshelev.