Who Considers Prague Green? (Portal of Prague)

Welcome to our presentation. We contacted some randomly selected large companies from Prague with a questionnaire about ecology. In other words we asked how they respected the environment and supported their employees to help protect the environment. We are presenting you Part 1. There are six questions posed and the answers are given in the order we received from the respective companies. Some are quite extensive, some more brief, however, the companies listed here, and those that will be added later, were very willing to co-operate.

1. What does the word “ecology” mean for your company?

a) Do you recycle waste and do you have bins for recycling in your offices (kitchenette etc.)?

b) Have you installed eco-friendly lighting?

c) Do you have an underground garage or bicycle stands or cycle storage?

d) Do you subsidise public transport for your employees or offer other options promoting their ecological behaviour?

2. In what other ways do you support ecology and a healthy environment?
If it does not, is it possible to change its state or design to comply with environment protection standards?

3. Do you know if the premises from which you operate fulfil ecological standards, eg. energy-saving light, air-conditioning, solar panels, underground garages, plants on or inside the building, nice surroundings)?

4. Does the operation of your company have an impact on the environment? Please specify how.

5. Is it possible to reduce the negative impact? Please specify how.

6. Should it be the case that you intend to change the residence of your company or build new premises for your company, will you consider ecological solutions?

Tomáš Kofroň, Raiffeisen bank spokesman
1. Yes, in the central office we have several bins for recycled waste on each floor, mainly for paper and plastic. We have installed energy-saving lights. In the underground garage we have a special “cage” for bicycles.
2. We have plants in the interiors of our buildings and the employees are encouraged to participate in voluntary activities provided by our bank, where aside from charity projects we offer ecological projects as well.
3. Yes, it fulfils most of the standards; the building was completed a few months ago and complies with even the strictest requirements.
4. It does not – it is an office operation mainly.
5. We changed the residence of our company a few months ago and we have taken into consideration the ecological aspects as well.

Mgr. Petr Holubec, Pražská energetika, a. s. spokesman
1. It is a significant part of our operation which we direct not only to our employees but also to our customers. Yes, we have bins for recycled waste; in addition we collect used batteries etc. Regarding our customers, we support the collection of used energy-saving bulbs and florescent lights in special containers placed in our sales offices. We offer special rates of electricity made from renewable resources – solar systems, water resources etc. We offer advisory services for economical use of electricity. We run dozens of other projects.
2. Partially answered above, naturally we care to improve the surroundings of our buildings as well, for example extending green areas by the PRE administration building at Na Hroudě and in other places, plants in the buildings are our standard.
3. Yes, we know, our company does fulfil the standards asked above, we hold the Green Light Certificate specified by the EU project for such premises that managed to decrease electricity use by approx. 30% on lighting while keeping the same light comfort. We have several such buildings and in addition we are prepared to help to obtain this certificate with our advice to any interested client. We have had solar panels on our building for almost ten years now and they are producing energy for our own use. Two years ago we implemented air-conditioning to our company and naturally we used environment friendly systems.
4. Yes, we are dealing with electricity – we offer electricity from renewable resources or advice for energy saving systems. At the same time we are also an electricity distributor and we control energy equipment with possible oil contamination of soil. We have been working intensively for several years now to dispose of old ecological burdens, we changed our equipment to a hermetic one compliant with the most up-to-date requirements and we have also prepared other preventive measures.
5. As an energy dealer, we have increased in what we offer and decreased the price of electricity from renewable resources, however this is not our primary remit – the State and the major electricity producer in the CZ must take care of that. As a distributor: We invest annually large amounts into replacing old non-compliant equipment and with current preventive measures.
6. No we don’t but if we did we would certainly do so.

Blanka Bělovská, external communication, GE Money
1. GE Money is a part of General Electric Ecomagination group, which encourages international projects leading to improvements of environment and the use of renewable resources of energy.
We recycle waste both on our local branches and in the central building. Where possible we installed energy-saving lights. We have both underground garages including disabled parking lots, and bicycle stands and motorcycle parking lots. In the area of BB Centre we subsidise bus transport. For our employees it is free.
2. GE Volunteers Elfun aims to support the society in which we live; we work in three main areas: children and education, disadvantaged fellow citizens and environment. It associates employees of GE Money in both Czech and Slovak Republics. Volunteers from GE Money employees dedicate thousands of hours every year to various activities in the above mentioned areas. This year’s projects concerning the environment were as follows: Earth Day in Trutnov, supported both by participation and organization by Trutnov GE Money Bank branch. Over 50 employees volunteered. The volunteers managed to re-cultivate a part of a forest park in Trutnov damaged by hurricane Kyrill where they have planted more than 1000 trees. The fourth year of Earth Day at the square of Moravský Krumlov had similar support while the local employees volunteered to organize children’s competitions addressing the problems the environment is facing. Another event was taken care of by Břeclav branch of GE Money Bank where it is volunteering employees to organise cleaning-up of Protected Landscape Area (PLA) Pálava.
3. Yes, it does. Apart from solar panels we have all above mentioned.
4. We are not producers so in a very limited range – we produce waste which we thoroughly recycle.
6. At the moment we are not thinking of changing the residence of our company.

Ing. František Polák, Spokesman, Metrostav a.s.
1. We have implemented an environmental management system that is regularly evaluated and supplemented in compliance with ČSN EN ISO 1400:1997.
We sort waste in all areas of the company. The building is new, environmentally friendly, has underground garages and its neighbourhood was adapted into a park.
2. We have already mentioned the surroundings of the building. Offices and shared spaces have integrated flower decorations, and the company holds summer and winter sports games for its employees.
3. The new building complies with all these conditions. .
4. Of course, we influence the environment significantly. In the course of product development, we are trying to cause as few restrictions as possible, and the end products, such as metro, tunnels or waste treatment plants, bring significant improvements to the environment
5. We minimize negative impacts by many complicated measures that reduce noise and dust to the minimum.
6. We build many new buildings and the investors usually respect these criterions.

Barbora Závodská, PR department, Česká spořitelna, a. s.
1. This April, the Česka spořitelna board of managers approved a new Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, which became an integral part of the overall company’s strategy for the period 2008-2010. Its main motto is “We Invest for the Future” stems from general principles of social responsibility, from our strategic targets and principles of the First Choice Bank program.
Sustainable development and ecology count among three major fields of our CSR strategy. Česká spořitelna is involved into many projects that fall within this field.
In addition, we decided to participate on Czech Republic’s undertaking to produce 8% of energy from renewable sources by 2010. Our specialised team has been helping potential investors with preparation and implementation of energy saving and renewable resources projects. In addition, we developed other projects focusing on above mention areas.
We also undertake in-house sustainable development steps, be it recycling, reduction of paper waste (such as the message “Are you sure you really need to print this message or its attachments? Think of environment”) and energy waste.

a) We currently sort plastic and paper waste in 115 premises of Česká spořitelna, and want to raise this number to 450, by the end of 2009. In 2007 the total amount of waste produced in the company was 2,437 ton, out of which 498 ton was paper and 19 ton plastic waste.

b) In the majority of cases, Česká spořitelna uses energy saving lighting, such as fluorescent tubes and energy saving bulbs, and is withdrawing standard bulbs and spot lights.

c) Underground garages are part of some of our buildings. Bicycle stands are also located in some buildings.

d) Since 1st January 2007, the company has been providing their employees with the opportunity to devote two workdays to charity work. They can take part in Charity Days events helping in several areas, one of them being the environment and its sustainability.

We also participate on the project Green Company that was initiated by the company REMA System. This project is beneficial for our employees because it provides them with the opportunity to dispose of small unwanted electrical appliances giving them at the same an option to actively participate on CSR strategy implementation.

2. I think, I have replied to this in the previous question.
3. Česká spořitelna administers a few hundred buildings. These undergo regular renovations and are equipped with energy saving technologies. We strive to secure the most modern available technology that complies with environmental requirements. Similarly, it became common practice to plant outdoor and, where possible, indoor spaces with greenery.
4. We are concerned about the current growth of electric energy consumption which is a result of our endeavour to provide better services, a comfortable environment for our clients and use top information technologies.
5. Negative impact on environment can be reduced by the utilisation of modern energy saving technology, economizing the running cost of buildings and, last but not least, responsible behaviour by all employees. Česká spořitelna follows this path and puts the stated policies to practice.
6. We don’t currently consider moving to another headquarters.

Ing. Dagmar Hartmanová, Spokeswoman, Pražská plynárenská, a. s. (Prague Gas Utility Copany)
1. We sort waste, we have energy saving lightings, and our employees can make use of underground garages. We contribute to public transport expenses of some of our employees (it depends on their job description).
2. PP premises in Michle are surrounded by a park with plenty of well maintained greenery. Our company runs natural gas car rental, and we have been gradually replacing old cars with natural gas cars. For several years we have been actively involved in promoting natural gas in vehicles.
3. Yes, it complies, with respect to the fact that it is a historical building. The other three buildings are renovated in compliance with the stated ecological parameters.
4. Business activities of our company don’t burden environment
5. New building - auto salon for natural gas cars – its design is part of PP, a. s., Michle urban project, designed from materials that fit in with the existing buildings.

Zuzana Čepelková, Communication Department, Komerční banka
1. Komerční banka is aware of the impact that its activities have on the environment and of the importance of responsible behaviour. We therefore adopt adequate measures that should eliminate the negative impact on the environment and contribute to its protection and improvement. In compliance with the sustainable development concept we encourage our employees to economize. We strive to increase the environmental awareness of our employees and clients, and implement new environmental friendly procedures, including the development of new products.
Waste sorting in KB is done by external companies; additionally, we strive to provide employees with more opportunities for sorting waste. In the duration of 2009, we want to offer options to sort waste to half of KB employees.
Energy saving lighting is commonplace in our company. We also have underground garages with the option to store bikes.
2. There is a “green message” in e-mails under the signature, which should remind of the importance of paper economizing. We purchase Green Energy - Komerční banka undertook to cover 10% of its annual energy consumption in green energy form, supporting the development of renewable energy sources. Involvement of employees – every KB employee can participate on activities focused on the protection of the environment - be it in an active form by participation in one of the projects (e.g. forest planting in Šumava, after destructive hurricane Kyril), or in a passive form – for example, by submitting ideas leading to environmentally friendly changes in procedures and regulations.
Regarding client services, internet banking counts among environmentally friendly services. Clients use electronic statements, are able to electronically apply for bank loans, and by doing that they contribute to reduction of paper waste.
3. Komerční banka has its headquarters in about four hundred buildings. We have installed energy saving bulbs in our branches, and we annually renovate air-conditioning, including ecological refrigerant, in about forty of our branches. Regarding underground garages, they are part of a few large buildings. Beside that, we park cars in reserved parking places. Greenery that surrounds individual branches is maintained by cleaning companies. Energy audits were processed in 2005-2006, and for the new branches they will be processed by the end of 2008.
4. Our environmental impact is influenced mostly by paper and energy consumption and by transport.
5. It is possible and we are already working on it – as stated above. We are looking for paper and energy saving measures. We suggest solutions that would lead to reduction of their consumption.
6. Komerční banka has been continuously analysing the option of centralisation that would require moving to another headquarters. Should this happen, environmentally friendly solutions will be one of the main criterions.

Ing. Radek Polák, PR and Strategic Marketing, Sekyra Group, a. s
1. Waste sorting and places for bicycle shelters are commonplace in out company
2. The projects we prepare and implement comply with the ecological requirements
3. We think it does comply
4. Activities of our subcontractors, especially of building companies we hire, have an impact on environment
5. We already place maximal emphasis on the protection of environment
6. We don’t want to change it

Tomáš Hejda, ČSOB Spokesman
1. We already use containers for waste sorting. We sort six types of waste (plastics, metal, tetra pack, bio and others). We use energy saving lighting.
Bike stands are available for employees. We don’t give financial contribution for public transport expenses. However, the building is located directly by the metro station and the tram loop is nearby as well.
2. ČSOB supports development and cultivation of Radlického údolí, including the cultivation of the surrounding slopes. In the interior we grow plants that are watered by rainwater.
3. New ČSOB headquarters in Radlice was awarded by the internationally recognised LEED Golden Certificate for environmental awareness. This certificate is considered to be a benchmark for design, building and operation of highly efficient green buildings. The certificate serves as a tool for measuring the impact of the building on the environment, it investigates five main areas: sustainable development of the area, water consumption, energy efficiency, selection of materials and quality of internal environment.
4. Operation of our company doesn’t influence the environment in the same way as for example industrial production does.
5. It has already happened.