Case Study: Green Savings Programme

Short Description

Using ETS (AAU in Czech Republic) funds for building renovation

Basic Programme Structure
The programme is divided into three basic subsidised areas:
A. Energy savings in heating
A.1. Complex insulation
A.2. Partial thermal insulation

B. Construction in the passive energy standard
C. Use of renewable energy sources for heating and hot water preparation
C.1. Replacement of environment-unfriendly heating for low-emission
biomass-fired sources and efficient heat pumps
C.2. Installation of low-emission biomass-fired sources and efficient heat
pumps in new buildings
C.3. Installation of solar-thermal collectors

Key Elements

Thermal Insulation

Complex1282,  Partial 406

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal Collectors 172

Funding

The programme is financed from the trade of the Assigned Amount Units

(AAU). This system of trading with AAUs is similar to the European Union

Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)

The AAU is defined by the Kyoto Protocol as a tradable unit of one ton CO2

which may be emitted by a state as greenhouse gases in the period of 2008 – 2012.

The state which reduces emissions more than in has committed in the Kyoto Protocol can sell its surplus of units to other states.

The Czech Republic has the right to sell its surplus units thanks to the fact

that it reduced its greenhouse emmissions by 24% in 2008 as compared

with 1990, after it had committed to 8% reduction in the Kyoto Protocol.

The reduction of greenhouse gases is a consequence of the phase out of

the heavy industry – as the main polluter - after the fall of the communism.

The Czech Republic had 100 million units available for trading, and has

signed four contracts before the end of 2009.

The price for credits is always confidential. However, the Ministry of

Environment expects the total revenue from the mentioned tradable

(AAU) units to reach approximately one billion euro. As most of you know, trading with AAUs has strict rules. Revenues from credits must be utilized exclusively for financing special projects which contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. In the case of the Czech Republic it is the Green Savings Programme which was established as a special

project for this purpose. This support is granted as a non-returnable subsidy in different amounts for different measures. The maximum amount is limited by the EU´s rules on

State Aid. Basic preconditions required for obtaining such subsidy is the

commitment in the designed plan to reduce the need of energy for heating

under the limit of 55 kWh/m2 per year, and at the same time to reduce the

consumption of the heat by 40% at least - after the completion of the

reconstruction.

Main Results

The main assumption is  that before the closure of this programme in 2012 our member

cooperatives will be able to utilize subsidies from this programme to a large extent.

We estimate that they will repair – taking into account the energy saving plans – approximately 30 – 50 thousand flats annually. Their number can reach 90 – 150 thousand in total.

Lessons learned

 This project aims for energy saving; energy renovation and reconstruction of static defects.  The main defects and  faults of the external cladding are the following:

• static defects of the structures

• Corrosion of the concrete parts,

• (Roof) leaking through various joints,

• Occurance of mould or mildew

• External insulation starts after repairs of defects

• balconies a loggias – defects of different parts, poor insulation

Additional Information

§ (+) 42 02 41 430 510

§ Fax : (+) 42 02 41434 363

§ Email: scmbd@scmbd.cz

Website: www.scmbd.cz