Energy scouts at Böllhoff
We also actively involve our apprentices in our quest for sustainability - by turning them into energy scouts, together with the Bielefeld and Detmold chambers of industry and commerce. This is because apprentices often develop the most exciting ideas for saving energy thanks to their uninfluenced view of operational processes.
Apprentices develop savings potential
The "Energie-Scouts OWL" project (Energy Scouts East Westphalia-Lippe) was launched by the chambers of industry and commerce in East Westphalia-Lippe. The idea behind it: Apprentices from the region are sensitized to the topics of energy and resource efficiency and trained accordingly in workshops. As energy scouts, they then have the opportunity to uncover concrete savings potential in their companies - and develop ideas for improvement.
Just like Rio Babilon, Julia Lentz, Jennifer Hemsen and Tim Kottowski: the four Böllhoff apprentices are taking part in the "Energie-Scouts OWL" project for us in 2024.
We spoke to Jennifer and Rio about why they are taking part in the project, what it means to them and what savings ideas their team has developed.
In conversation with two Böllhoff Energy Scouts 2024
Jennifer and Rio, what made you decide to take part in the "Energie-Scouts OWL" project for Böllhoff?
Jennifer Hemsen:
At that time, we received an email from our trainers that the annual "Energie-Scouts OWL" project was taking place again. Naturally, they asked which of us would like to take part. I said to a few other apprentices in our group: "Come on, let's do it, there are cool workshops and stuff like that."
So we initially had a team. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it fell apart again before the project started - except for Julia and me. So we spontaneously asked Rio and Tim if they wanted to join us.
Rio Babilon:
Tim and I joined because we didn't even realize at first that the project was taking place. But then we quickly thought to ourselves: that sounds interesting, we can definitely get involved.
»"For me, it was a great honour to be given the trust, but also the responsibility - and to be able to be active as an energy scout. Even as an apprentice, you have the freedom to do something special and create your own project. And I'm proud of what we've come up with!"
Give us a concrete insight: What is your savings idea for Böllhoff that you developed as energy scouts?
Rio Babilon:
Our savings project is about PC headsets, which our IT department buys and provides centrally for users in the company. As an apprentice, I come from the IT department myself.
And I noticed something about the headsets: When used headsets are returned to IT, for example due to a job change, these headsets are first put into storage. On average, we get around 5 headsets back per month across Germany, so that makes 60 headsets per year.
However, new users were often equipped with brand new headsets - mainly for hygiene reasons. I said to the other energy scouts: let's take a look at this, maybe we can do something about it.
Savings idea from our Energy Scouts 2024
Keeping an eye on the continued use of headsets
Jennifer Hemsen:
Each new headset causes emissions of 24.9 kg of CO₂ due to the materials used. And costs Böllhoff 162 euros.
So we did some research and found out that we could also buy replacement ear pads. This means that the cushions can simply be replaced when headsets are returned. This allows used headsets to be refurbished and used for longer.
Rio Babilon:
By comparison, the replacement ear pads cause emissions of just 0.16 kg CO₂ at material level - instead of 24.9 kg CO₂ for a newly purchased headset.
Jennifer Hemsen:
So for the CO₂ emissions of a new headset, we can fit over 150 used ones with new ear pads and reuse them.
Rio Babilon:
Another advantage: replacing the ear pads costs only a fraction of the price of a new headset - instead of 162 euros when buying a new one, it only costs around 20 euros per replacement. This already includes the labour costs for around 10 minutes of work per headset.
Jennifer Hemsen:
Calculated over the year, we can save a lot here - around 99% of CO₂ emissions per headset replacement and cash for the company.
A win-win situation for the environment and the company - also internationally
Following the findings of our energy scouts 2024, the process for replacing headsets in Germany has already been changed. There, old headsets are now refurbished with new ear pads whenever possible instead of buying new headsets.
With currently 60 replacements a year, we save 1.4 tonnes of CO₂ per year. In addition, the company itself saves over 8,500 euros a year, as the headsets with new ear pads can remain in use for longer. A win-win situation, both ecologically and economically.
And the next step is already planned: In summer 2024, the energy scouts were also able to present their exciting savings idea to international colleagues. In the future, headset refurbishment will also be introduced at other Böllhoff locations internationally.
»"It's a great opportunity for us to take part in the energy scouts project for Böllhoff and I'm glad I signed up for it. Because it just shows how much you can do even with small things - like in our case with PC headsets - even as an apprentice."
"Energie-Scouts OWL":
A project with tradition
The ”Energie-Scouts OWL" project of the Bielefeld and Detmold chambers of industry and commerce takes place for the eleventh time in 2024. And participation in the project has also become a system at Böllhoff.
Before Rio, Julia, Jennifer and Tim, three other apprentices took part in the project for us in 2022. At the time, the technical apprentices were looking at potential savings in compressed air systems in our locknut production. This shows how diverse the savings projects and ideas are - depending on the apprentices' backgrounds, interests and specialist areas.
An approach with a future
And there will be Böllhoff energy scouts again in 2025. Because the project not only reveals exciting savings potential for our company. It also offers apprentices the opportunity to go above and beyond in their own sustainability project.
But before that, a special milestone awaits the apprentice team from 2024: year after year, the best energy-saving projects from all the energy scouts across East Westphalia-Lippe are selected by a jury - and awarded prizes at the end of the year.
Finals of the “Energie-Scouts OWL” project 2024
Böllhoff energy scouts among the top 7
In 2024, a total of 31 apprentice teams took part in the “Energie-Scouts OWL” project, presenting their own ideas for savings. We are therefore even prouder of our four apprentices Rio, Julia, Jennifer and Tim: with their headset project, they reached the finals on 29 November 2024 – and thus ended up among the top 7 teams. Well done, congratulations!
And by the way: all apprentice teams combined have uncovered potential savings of over 500 tonnes of CO2 and over €350,000 per year in all their companies in 2024. What a testament to how valuable and effective it is to involve apprentices in sustainability.
