Efficiency as a duty

Anna Kapica-Harward: The use of energy by Polish business is said to be three times higher than in Western European countries. Why is that? Paweł Markiton: Yes, we use much more energy to heat and cool our building, in Poland compared with Western countries. This is partly due to the inefficient insulation systems in old buildings and partly due to outdated heating, cooling and ventilation systems still in use in many developments. These two factors are the main reasons behind the large difference in energy use between Poland and countries that already use newer technology. However, new buildings that we are seeing raised often use technology we are adopting from Western Europe and from the US. Implementation of new systems is becoming easier and more accessible, and, as well as cutting costs, these allow us to fulfill our moral duty to protect the environment. Anna Kapica-Harward: How would you compare Poland's awareness of issues linked to corporate social responsibility with other European countries? Paweł Markiton: Awareness in Poland is not so different from other countries. However, economic and legal conditions here mean that we are not always able to use the available tools to achieve the same results as in the West. I am not worried about the level of awareness in Poland. What could be worrying, however, is the fact that the tools we have at our disposal and our knowledge are not always used by that those responsible for facility management or by those in charge of enterprises to make decisions which are fairly easy to make and would not only bring energy efficiency but would also be beneficial for their business. The Clinton Climate Initiative is a good example of how the thinking can be put into practice. Through visits in 40 cities participating in the scheme, we are working on reduction of greenhouse gases and are trying to put across the message that energy-efficient technology is beneficial for the producer of these systems, those who pay the bills, and the environment. This is a simple equation but not everybody can see it. Anna Kapica-Harward: Might developers be discouraged by the cost of implementing energy-efficient systems? Paweł Markiton: It depends who is behind the project. If we are able to get to the end user, we can tell him what he can gain or lose. This, however, is rarely the case, as most office buildings are leased and the facility manager is introduced when the building has been constructed. It's easier talking to those who are going to pay the bills. However, if we are only talking about construction firms, they often prefer to go with cheaper solutions as they have a budget to work with. We can understand that and that is why we want to get the message across to construction companies as well. Anna Kapica-Harward: How will EU directives impact on implementation of energy-efficient systems in Poland? Paweł Markiton: The direction set by the EU is clear and meeting the requirements is not something we want to do but something we will have to do. I suppose from year to year we will be under more pressure to implement energy-efficient systems to be in line with new legislation. However, another reason for implementing such solutions will be the fact that the price of energy in Poland will be rising. It is only likely to be a few percent a year, however, energy prices in Poland will eventually have to meet the European level.