Energy Sustainability in the Basque Public Sector

In September 2015, the Basque Government approved the Decree 178/2015 on energy sustainability in the public sector of the Basque Country, which regulates energy saving, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the buildings of the government, regional bodies and other organisations answerable to the regional government. In other words, this decree sets up a policy package to develop energy efficiency actions and to enhance the use of renewable energy in buildings owned by the Basque Administration, as well as in their public housing stock.

The decree sets out the following commitments:

• The public sector must act as a role model in matters of savings and efficiency in buildings;
• The public sector must reduce energy consumption in its buildings, installations and fleets by 12% in 2020 and 25% in 2025, as compared to 2015.
• The public sector must ensure that 32% of its buildings in 2020 and 40% in 2025 use renewable energy.

Also, the Energy Strategy of the Basque Country 2030 (3E2030) defines the objectives and basic lines of action for the Basque Government in terms of its energy policy for the period 2016-2030. This strategy is part of a longer-term vision that envisages an increasingly sustainable energy system in terms of competitiveness, security of supply and low carbon dependency. For instance, from 31 December 2018, all new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities should be nearly zero-energy buildings. This obligation has been brought forward for Basque Government buildings by way of Decree 178/2015. Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency requires renovation from 2014 of 3% per year of the floor area of buildings owned and occupied by the central governments of the member states. Likewise, public authorities must purchase only products, services and buildings with high standards of energy efficiency, introducing an energy efficiency plan and introducing an energy management system.

Link of the 2030 Energy Plan