Energy saved with improvements to conservation and efficiency

In 2011, in the Rio de Janeiro facilities of the BNDES (Edserj), where 58% of its employees are located, several initiatives were carried out with the purpose of saving energy.

Among these measures, highlights include:

a) Modernization of the elevators

The work is underway and is planned to be completed in July 2013, with the aim of reducing the energy consumption in the elevator’s motors by 20%. This is possible, especially due to the replacement of the old overhauled motors for soft starters, used during the startup of the motors that move the elevator cars.

b) Modernization of the substation

Prior to the modernization process, which started in November 2010, the Edserj substation operated with 12 transformers with 1-MVA (megavolt-ampere) volts each. Currently, with the deactivation of the 3 transformers, we were able to eliminate the consumption of 3-MVAr (reactive megavolt-ampere), with no loss of demand capacity; the project is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2012.

A total of 180 partial switches were also replaced, eliminating bad contact failures that existed. After a comparative thermal imaging test of these devices, it was concluded that the replacement also provided more favorable operational conditions to the system, eliminating exceeding energy consumption.

c) Modernization of the cold-water central

By replacing old centrifuges with others with better performance, it was possible to obtain a considerable saving in energy in the operation of this equipment.

d) Modernization on office floors

Besides improvements to the environmental, ergonomic and aesthetic comfort, the modernization of the office floors also generated energy savings with the following measures:

• Replacement of electric wiring;
• Replacement of the old transformers with new and more efficient ones;
• Replacement of the fan coils in the floor’s air conditioning system with the replacement of the frequency converters with new ones with better performance; and
• Improvements to the earthing system.

e) Installation of new cooling towers

New cooling towers for the Edserj air-conditioning system has greater outflow and centrifuges with better performance, which represents a gain in the production of cold water with no considerable increase in power consumption.

f) Migration to the Free Electric Power Market

The BNDES falls under the free power consumer category and in 2011 migrated to the Free Market. This change allowed for the purchase of energy originating entirely from renewable sources and also represented a reduction in electric power costs of approximately 12% per month.

g) Lighting project with LED technology

In 2011, a feasibility study was conducted to exchange fluorescent light bulbs with electronic ballasts, currently installed at the Edserj facilities, for LED bulbs, which do not use mercury and produce lower thermal charge with the consequential reduction in air-.conditioning consumption. This will provide a reduction of approximately 50% in electric power consumption with lighting, among other benefits.