Due to the noticeable climate change in Central Europe, especially in recent years, the demand for environmental protection measures and the associated reduction of greenhouse gases is required. In the Federal Energy Program 2007, this demand was reiterated by the Federal Ministry for the Environment.

In order to secure the production processes and thus jobs also in the future, an intelligent energy use is necessary with rising raw material as well as primary energy prices. At the site of Gerodur MPM Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH & Co. KG this was recognized and implemented at an early stage.

This implementation was carried out by using open spaces as energetic heat exchanger surfaces. Here, the temperature level of the underground as well as the ambient cold is used to recool production water in the low temperature range.

The design of these heat exchangers is based on the principle of ground collectors. On a substructure consisting of a mineral mixture, the load-bearing layer with a corresponding structure was applied and the ground collector pipe was laid. By means of an appropriate connection technology, the linking of the ground collectors with the distribution systems and the connection to the existing cooling system could be permanently ensured.

In order to increase the efficiency of the heat exchanger surfaces by a factor of 4, the covering of the collector system was replaced by a special composite material.

This expansion of the storage and parking areas with the large-scale collector system, which covers an area of approx. 18,000 m2 on the factory premises, enabled a saving of approx. 25 percent on conventional cooling to be achieved.