Energy efficiency measure (Energy Saving Obligation)

• Environmental Management Activities Decree
• Environmental Management Establishments Act

The Environmental Management Activities Decree obliges companies and institutions that consume min. 50,000 kWh or 25,000 m 3 of natural gas or an equivalent per year to implement all energy-saving measures with a payback period of maximum 5 years.

There is a recognised list of measures for energy saving. The obliged company or institution must implement all measures applying to them. Each measure has specified technical and economic preconditions.

Companies and institutions that consume at least 50,000 kWh or 25,000 m 3 of natural gas or an equivalent per year, covering facilities in 19 industries, including among others: metal manufacturing companies, vehicles repair companies, health and welfare institutions, offices, educational institutions, commercial data centres, agricultural sector, hotels and restaurants and industrial buildings.

In order to fulfil the energy saving obligation a company or institution can choose one of the following options:
• It can implement measures with a payback period of 5 years or less.
• It can implement all applicable measures listed in the recognised list of measures for energy saving for specific industry.
• It can implement some of the applicable listed in the recognised list of measures for energy saving for specific industry. For any applicable recognized measure that has not been implemented, the obliged party must implement an equivalent or better alternative measure. The alternative measure should save as much or more energy as the recognized measure.
The competent authority will determine whether the obliged party complied with the energy saving obligation.

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate