General news

FMUP promotes energy efficiency and bets on renewable sources for self-consumption

Primary energy consumption will be reduced by 55.3%

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) will reduce primary energy consumption by 55.3% (2,342,295 kWhEP/year less) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 234.23 tCO2 eq/year.

The "FMUP Mais Sustentável" project, with a total funding of 1,276,933.07 euros, aims to put into practice "measures that promote energy and other resource efficiency and reinforce the production of energy from renewable sources on a self-consumption basis, contributing to improving the energy and environmental performance of its buildings."

Among the measures planned are the implementation of a Self-Consumption Production Unit (UPAC) to produce electricity using photovoltaic technology. The investment amounts to 250,000 euros.

The project also includes the expansion of energy management solutions (including the incorporation of sensors and dimmers), as well as the replacement of current lighting with LED equipment (namely in classrooms, offices, laboratories, and corridors), HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and the pumping systems of the thermal power plant.

A reduction of around 64.5 m3/year is also expected in the consumption of water supply in the intervened buildings, with the implementation of water management solutions through monitoring, including detection and alarms, and intelligent consumption control.

The FMUP building consists of a complex of approximately 23,000 square meters of three buildings, serving more than three thousand students in the various courses.

The "FMUP Mais Sustentável" project will last 26 months. The objectives are part of the "Energy Efficiency in Central Public Administration Buildings" program and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) in line with the targets set in the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNEC 2030), the Long-Term Strategy for Building Renewal (ELPRE) and the Resource Efficiency Program in Public Administration 2030 (ECO.AP 2030). The Environmental Fund (FA) is responsible for operating it.