Embassy residence in Dublin impresses with geothermal heat

Press release 2008-11-18

The National Property Board Sweden (SFV) actively works with environmental issues, both in Sweden and abroad. Recently, a geothermal facility was installed at the embassy residence in Dublin, a solution that has gained a great deal of attention in Ireland. During an opening ceremony yesterday, Ambassador Claes Ljungdahl showed the geothermal installation to colleagues and the Irish press. Guests included SFV_s General Director, Bo Jonsson, as well as ambassadors from Great Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands and Japan.

For Swedes, geothermal heat is not a new concept, but in Ireland there was a great deal of curiosity about the new installation, which is now located at the Swedish Embassy residence in Dublin. The opening yesterday attracted embassy colleagues from different parts of the world.

For SFV, which consciously works to meet the government´s established environmental goals with a focus on reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, geothermal heat was a desirable alternative.

"Geothermal heat is a good technology for a property of this size and something that we are looking into for several of our properties throughout the world. The problem is that the technology is not available at many of these locations yet. Here in Ireland, we decided to try to implement the project. With the help of the embassy we succeeded in finding an Irish company that could do the drilling. However, the pump and installer comes from Sweden"says Bo Jonsson, General Director for the national Property Board Sweden.

The environmental gains are difficult to value in figures, but since oil consumption was previously around 13 m3/year, they are significant. The investment is expected to be repaid within approximately five years.

Sweden´s ambassador in Dublin, Claes Ljungdahl, is very positive towards the effort:

"I welcome the geothermal installation at the residence. It is being done at a place and at a time that is perfect for us here in Dublin. The discussion regarding reducing the dependence on fossil fuels is also becoming more intensive here. In addition, it has inspired all of us at the embassy to take the conversion to geothermal heat as a starting point in making the entire authority more environmentally-friendly."

More information:

• Björn Holmberg, Technical Manager, SFV Utrikes (SFV operations outside Sweden)bjorn.holmberg@sfv.se.

Tradition is change. Sweden has many buildings and environments of great value to its national cultural history. Each one is part of the nation_s history and its future. The National Property Board Sweden aims to make all Swedes proud of these national treasures _ palaces and royal parks, theatres, museums, embassies, and property comprising one seventh of the total land mass of Sweden. All are owned by the Swedes collectively, and the duty of the Board is to administer them in the best possible way.

Källa: SFV, 2009-06-30