The Green Savings Program will be expanded to public buildings starting in July

Prague - In July, cities may begin to apply for subsidies from the Green Savings program, which are intended for energy savings in public buildings. A total of four billion crowns have been allocated for these purposes. Environment Minister Rut Bízková said this to journalists today. Until now, the Green Savings program has been intended only for households and residential buildings.
    "Cities, municipalities, and regions will thus be able to draw financial resources for measures aimed at energy savings in schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and social care institutions," Bízková stated. In addition to a more environmentally friendly approach, the office hopes this measure will also create new jobs, especially in the construction industry.
    The expansion of the program to include public buildings was made possible by a contractual amendment that Bízková signed in June with the executive director of the Kyoto Protocol for Japan, Yasuhiro Shimizu.
    To date, the Czech Republic has earned around 18 billion crowns from the sale of carbon emission credits (AAU) abroad. The right to sell emission units was gained by the Czech Republic because, since 1990, it has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 27.6 percent, while committing to an eight percent reduction under the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, the unused right to emit harmful emissions can be sold by the Czech Republic in the form of AAU units to other countries or companies.
    Another innovation introduced by the ministry today is called green purchasing. According to new rules approved by the government last week, public administration will begin to award public contracts with regard to ecology from November. "Public administration will thus be able to acquire office furniture with lower levels of chemical substances and also purchase more energy-efficient computing technology," Bízková noted. The ministry intends to evaluate the project by December next year, and the rules may potentially be expanded to include office paper, printing services, food, or clothing. This measure could also boost domestic businesses, as government offices will need new innovative products.