GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE

Country:	GERMANY, Hamburg
Product group:	Office Devices
Name of the institution:	SECURVITA Health Insurance

CO₂ reduction: 8 tons/year
Cost savings: 1600 €/year (estimated)

Overview

The SECURVITA is a German-wide operating compulsory health insurance. In the year 2005 the environment senator from Hamburg awarded the company as the first environmental partner from the health insurance sector. An example for the practised environmental protection measures is the use of energy saving office devices

Institutional details

Procurement process

The procurement of office devices and its responsibility lies with the division director for process organisation and administration. He acts according to the central procurement directives, in which aspects for energy efficiency are demanded. Corresponding to the terms for statutory corporations of the public law, the certain directives are considered, such as an invitation to tenders, competing offers, offered economic efficiency, etc.

Measures

By purchasing office devices (Personal Computer, Monitors, Printer, Copiers and Fax Machines) as well as lighting, the SECURVITA health fund considers the criteria of the Energy Star, Blauer Engel and TCO respectively.

In the year 2005 the division directors determined the procurement according to ecological criteria, which were initiated by the executive board. This decision was supported by a discussion process of environmental guidelines and a self-conception. Against the background of the public profile of the SECURVITA, the PR office of this company was involved within this discussion.

Success

The existing office devices in the company will gradually be replaced. By considering the mentioned criteria, about 12,000 kWh of energy could be saved per year. Assuming an electricity tariff of 13 cent/kWh this corresponds to a reduction of energy costs of about 1600 €. Thus the climate is spared from about 8000 kg CO₂.