High standards of environmental efficiency throughout the public administration will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. Through its positive example set by the new green public procurement policy, the public administration will systematically encourage other stakeholders to introduce or accelerate the implementation of measures for the transition to a low-carbon society and the efficient use of natural resources and other green policies. Centralized real estate management within the public sector will establish the conditions for a unified approach to reducing energy consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions.
Expenditure by public authorities in Europe amounts to more than € 2 billion a year, or 19% of the EU’s gross domestic product. For the public sector, this means an opportunity and an obligation to use this purchasing power wisely. Green public procurement can reduce the direct impact of public activities on the environment, while influencing the market to provide more environmentally friendly products, services and works. The advantages of green public procurement are:
achieving specific environmental objectives (eg reduction of CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, conservation of natural resources);
cost savings;
increasing the confidence of citizens, businesses and civil society in public administration;
promoting innovation and supporting the development of and expansion of competitive, environmentally friendly products and services;
creating healthier working conditions for workers;
increase the capacity of public organizations to meet environmental and resource challenges.
Since the activity of the public sector is mostly an office activity, it makes sense to introduce the concept of a green office at the level of the entire public administration.
Statistical data on public procurement in Slovenia, which are included directly in publications on the public procurement portal, show that in 2013 contracting authorities complied with environmental criteria when awarding 1,066 contracts or when awarding 1,910 lots in the amount of EUR 429,984,418 (excluding VAT). ), which represents 18.71% of the total number of public procurements. In 750 lots with a total value of EUR 211,912,739 (excluding VAT), the contracting authorities took the environmental aspect into account on a voluntary basis.
The potential is still great: in 2004-2007, the city of Vienna saved € 44.4 million through its EcoBuy program and reduced CO2 emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes. The savings come, for example, from reducing the consumption of cleaners and the installation of energy-efficient building elements. A life cycle costing approach is used to calculate savings.
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