The ever-increasing energy consumption is one of the most serious environmental challenges facing the world in the years to come. Increased energy consumption leads to serious global environmental problems, for example in the form of increased emissions of greenhouse gasses. Local problems can also arise, such as irreversible encroachment on nature following the building of new hydro-electric plants or local pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Even the use of newly developed renewable energy sources like biomass, wind or solar energy is not without negative environmental aspects. The most environmentally friendly way to use energy is not to use energy at all. This demands increased focus on the effective consumption of energy, which is consistent with Telenor's goal of an efficient business with regard to both economics and the environment.

Examples of energy conservation work in Telenor

• The energy conservation project in Telenor Telecom Solutions
  The project commenced in 1998 with a mandate to reduce energy consumption in Telenor's buildings.

  Based on Telenor's annual consumption of electrical energy in addition to oil and distant heating, cautious estimates indicated a potential for energy savings of approximately 10 %. This could lead to annual savings of NOK 16 million.

  Special funding was allotted to the project in the budget for 2000, which was to be used on profitable projects where investments should have a payback period of less than five years. The present value and rate of return are assessed from project to project. The choice of appropriate buildings is made on the basis of the buildings' condition, size, etc.

  The regional energy conservation centres assist in the form of free energy conservation analyses of the larger and more complex buildings. The most profitable measures are selected and implemented on the basis of these energy conservation reports.

  The mandate for the energy conservation project in Telenor Solutions for 2000 was to review and implement initiatives in one mountain installation, 17 telecommunications buildings and 26 smaller buildings.

• The energy conservation project in Telenor Eiendom
  In the period 1998 to 2000, Telenor Eiendom (Telenor Property Management) has participated in a nationwide energy conservation project. The project focused on the energy consumption in 20 selected buildings, five in each of the market areas. Energy follow-up, which meant that it will always be possible to obtain an overview of the energy consumption, was a central objective of the project. In addition, energy conservation analyses were completed for the buildings involved in the project.

  The results show that Telenor Eiendom will be able to reduce its energy consumption in the 20 buildings in question by an average of 14%, corresponding to 4 GWh, by means of "profitable" investments. An investment is considered to be profitable if the pay-back time does not exceed three years. 4 GWh corresponds to the energy consumption of 160 average-sized houses.

  The energy conservation project will be continued in the period 2001 to 2003, by involving more buildings and by implementing profitable projects. This work will be carried out in co-operation with Telenor Telecom Solutions (TTS).