NOTEEPA is a forerunner in purchase of green energy in Zachodniopomorskie Province. EPA is the first company in Zachodniopomorskie Province to buy the EKO Partner 50 package from ENEA. The "green package" is a service addressed to environmentally aware companies willing to contribute to environmental protection. EPA's 20th Anniversary for its Counterparties
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IN HARMONY WITH ENVIROMENT
Szczecin, 24th October, 2008.
EPA is the first company in Zachodniopomorskie Province to buy the EKO Partner 50 package from ENEA. The "green package" is a service addressed to environmentally aware companies willing to contribute to environmental protection. The new - available since April 2008 - service offered by ENEA includes three packages with significant share of renewable energy in each. The agreement allowing EPA to purchase as much as 50% of energy it consumes from renewable sources, that is EKO Partner 50, is effective from 1 August 2008.
Almost half of the companies in Western Europe buy green energy. Such an attitude is the result of campaigns promoting environmental responsibility. Start of the XXIst century is the time of world's energy uncertainty. Local energy resources in Europe - fossil fuels - are close to depletion; we are facing rapidly increasing energy prices. Continuing reliance on conventional energy sources undermines economic stability due to the effects of increasing fuel costs on production costs, in particular costs of electricity. Therefore, it is imperative for all European states to optimally use own, internal energy sources and promote energy awareness. Europe is very energy - intensive and heavily relies on energy imports. Today, energy imports account for as much as 50% of the European demand for energy. The figure is likely to rise to 70% within two decades if Europe does not change the path it is following. Increase in energy production in renewables sources is reasoned by situation on the global energy market. Poland, a member of the European Union, has certain commitments. During the EU summit in March 2007 leaders of the Member States declared that 20% of energy in the EU by year 2020 will be produced from renewable sources. It has been agreed that the targets for particular countries will be differentiated with respect to the baseline and potential of renewables as well as current penetration and fuel structure in the energy sector. In January this year European Commission presented a draft of the new energy package concerning promotion of use of renewable energy and decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. It stems from the draft documents that EU - wide trading scheme for green certificates is to be implemented; furthermore, private investments in renewables could benefit from public aid more easily. The European Commission has also proposed to establish mandatory targets for renewables' share in energy production in 2020 in particular Member States. The target proposed for Poland is 15%. Most other Member States have higher targets.
President of the Board, Jarosław Mroczek: ..."We do care for the future, hence the decision. I often try to imagine how will the country and environment our children and grandchildren would live in look like; what do we leave them and what living conditions they do have to face. Our today's actions are directly related to the tomorrow's effects. Understanding, how important is human being a beneficiary of his activity, his surroundings; I think that equilibrium between condition of the environment and our needs has to be the lodestar for human activities. We cannot take the world and the environment only as something we need; however, we also should not perceive it only as a world for fauna and flora. We all should support sustainable development, that is the development that in predictable future would change make our life better and more comfortable, but with care and improvement of the environment. In Poland measures such as taken by EPA are still uncommon. It is hard to admit, but Poland is far behind other EU countries. This makes giving example even more important. This is what we are trying to do. I hope our step would encourage other companies in the region to follow the path. We are not going to be content with this small step..."...
EPA as a forerunner in development of wind energy projects is aware of the importance of paving the way for new ideas and latest trends, not only for business, but also environment and ecology. EPA is willing to be an example of how the latest world's technologies combined with environmental awareness may be the driving force of progress and strive to offer the best products.
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For EPA, the leading wind energy developer in Poland, increase in the share of energy produced from renewable energy sources is imperative. Being a successful company, EPA is also aware of its role and responsibilities towards the environment and future generations. Therefore it not only acts to broaden the wind energy market, but also conducts its activities in an ethical and environmentally and socially responsible manner. The decision to change electricity tariff to a more expensive package was not motivated by business considerations. The company will have to pay higher costs for energy. The decision was based on the knowledge concerning the country's and world's energy situation and the intention to promote environmental awareness among EPA employees, counterparts and clients.
Apart from purchasing more expensive energy in the EKO Partner 50 package, EPA takes a number of other measures, such as waste segregation and recycling or using energy - saving bulbs. The company also developed special software for electronic circulation of documents to save paper and electricity. These - and many more - measures fit the mission and image of an environmentally responsible company.
