Results and challenges in practice

Electrical energy saving (PZU and PZU Życie)

• The installation of special equipment, power compensating devices, makes it possible in some properties to reduce the consumption of “reactive” power by roughly 90%. In 2018 these power compensating devices were installed in 10 buildings. Another 15 modernization projects are in the works by the end of 2020. 
• Verification of temperature settings and programming air conditioning units installed in server rooms. 
• Installation of LED lighting. In 2018 lighting was replaced in the office building in Rzeszów (more than 1.6 thousand square meters) and in 10 smaller properties. LED lighting will be installed in another 20 offices by the end of 2020. In addition, we will start to use LED lighting in all the external signage in PZU branches in 2018. 
• Pilot installation of photovoltaic cells on the roofs of office buildings belonging to PZU and PZU Życie. Panels were installed on four properties up to the end of 2018. 

Heat savings (PZU and PZU Życie)

• Thermal modernization of buildings: insulating walls and roofs, replacement of window joinery and central heating installation. Thermal modernization work was conducted in 12 properties in 2018. Work is scheduled to be performed in another 28 facilities by the end of 2020. 
• The replacement of depleted heating boilers with modern and highly efficient devices with an option to adjust their operation to atmospheric conditions (weather controllers). Modern boilers produce heat while at the same time they save thermal and electrical energy and reduce the emissions of gases into the atmosphere. Heating boilers were replaced in 26 locations in 2018. The replacement of 55 boilers is slated to take place by the end of 2020. 

Tower Inwestycje will build its new office building called Brama Orłowska in accordance with the BREEAM Excellent certificate standards. Ecological solutions will be present at all stages of the investment: from design to execution to finishing work. The Brama Orłowska building will be outfitted solely with LED lights, while its water and sewage systems will be built in a manner that minimizes the risk of biological contamination. Water distributors will be used to provide drinking water. In addition, separate electricity and heat meters will be installed in the building for each tenant, while the quantum of segregate waste will be subject to monitoring. The internal roads and parking lots will have separators to capture petroleum-based substances.

PZU Zdrowie will also ensure that its facilities are environmentally-friendly as it plans to ramp up the number of clinics. LED lighting and carpets free of “phthalates” that affect air quality in offices will be used in medical centers.

Link4 leases its Head Office in a building certified as LEED Gold. This site has been outfitted with antysmog filters.

The ecological activities of Ogrodowa Inwestycje include, among others, the replacement of another ice water aggregrate with a device containing a dry cooler (the cooling aggregrate uses low external temperatures to produce cool air). Along with the replacement of lighting with LED lamps in the garage, shared areas (corridors and elevator areas) and the installation of motion sensors to reduce power consumption, this will help save approx. 30 MWh of electricity per year.

In order to achieve a significant reduction in the consumption of water, faucet aerators are being installed in restrooms and employee amenity areas. Faucet aerators (tips attached to the end of a faucet) visually increase the stream of water by mixing it with air, which process results in a reduced consumption of water. In 2018, faucets in the Head Office buildings and in office buildings with more than 10 users were fitted with faucet aerators. In total, over 1,000 such devices were installed. By 2020, the Group intends to install faucet aerators in 90% of properties used by PZU and PZU Życie.

Environmentally friendly behaviors of employees

On 22 March 2018, on the occasion of the World Water Day, an educational campaign for employees was run at PZU all over Poland to promote environmentally friendly habits. As part of follow-up activities, Green PZU stickers were placed in the restrooms and kitchens, promoting the saving of water, energy and paper. In turn, on 22 April 2018, during the Earth Day, the topic of the Company’s newsletter was pollution caused by plastic. Then, on 5 June 2018, on the occasion of the Environmental Protection Day, messages were displayed encouraging employees to reduce their use of plastic disposable products.

Link4 runs a regular campaign to collect light bulbs, bottle caps and e-waste.

The Pekao Group and the Alior Group conduct educational campaigns promoting energy conservation, water saving, selective waste collection and responsible waste recycling.

The companies reduce the consumption of office supplies, in particular of paper and printer toner. Environmentally friendly prints and forms are deployed and the number of printers keeps declining due to the policy of using shared multifunction devices. The banks also use the services of specialized recycling firms.

The car fleet also underwent environmentally friendly changes. PZU and PZU Życie currently use smaller cars that are economical and utilize alternative sources of propulsion. 134 hybrid-drive cars were purchased and four electric cars were rented.

The PZU Group is concerned about the natural environment not only in Poland. An environmentally friendly approach to doing business has been adopted by all foreign members of the Group.

In Lithuania, Lietuvos Draudimas has in place a formalized environmental policy. Information on environmental protection matters is published in its annual reports and CSR reports. All buildings of the Lithuanian company are also monitored for the consumption of utilities. The plan adopted by the company calls for savings in: water consumption (by 5%), heat energy (by 10%) and electric energy (by 2%). The company intends to sell its old buildings characterized by low energy efficiency parameters, carry out thermal upgrading of its Head Office building in Vilnius, change its lighting system to LED-fitted, introduce waste sorting rules and run some environmental education campaigns. 

The Lithuanian company PZU Lietuva Gyvybes Draudimas reduces waste generation, runs environmental education campaigns and organizes waste sorting in some of its locations. Monitoring of the consumption of utilities has been introduced in all facilities. 

The Latvian company Balta has installed economical lighting and sunblinds. It intends to reduce its consumption of utilities, water and electricity by approx. 5%. The company is also involved in the recycling of old electronics and in paper sorting. The management board is working on the adoption of an environmental policy. 

The Estonian branch of Lietuvos Draudimas intends to reduce water and electricity consumption by 1%. Moreover, the lighting system in the Head Office building in Tallinn will be changed to LED lighting.