Interreg makes public buildings in the Mediterranean region more energy efficient with Green Public Procurement

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GRASPINNO beneficiaries who participated in the project's Living Labs say they gained several benefits through their participation.Anastasia Zacharopoulou, Ministry of Economy and Development, GreeceThanks to Interreg, three online tools to help public authorities and SMEs manage and implement GPP were designed. An online transnational Mediterranean network was established that encourages exchange of information and experience between public and private organisations.Seven ‘living labs’ were organised on a range of GPP topics, during which 60 public authorities and 26 SMEs received training in procuring and bidding for ‘green’ products and services to make buildings more energy efficient.An urgent need for energy upgradesMany public buildings in Mediterranean countries are old and energy inefficient. Refurbishing and renovating them is a matter of urgency, to ensure they comply with building regulations, reduce CO2 emissions, save taxpayers money, and improve the health and wellbeing of employees who work in them – and the citizens that use services there.The European Commission defines GPP as the acquisition by public bodies of products and services that promote sustainable production and consumption. The challenge is increasing the uptake of GPP and creating standard procurement criteria that are applicable across all Member States.Digital toolsThe project created a ‘unified platform’ with three digital tools: a GRASPINNO database, an eGPP support tool and life cycle cost calculator. The database helps public authorities include ‘green’ criteria in their tenders, and SMEs to offer services that can meet these needs. With the eGPP tool, authorities can more easily collect ‘green’ specifications to be used in tenders. Lastly, the calculator provides an indication of the cost of proposed solutions over their lifetime.According to an interview with project coordinator Professor Yorgos Stephanedes, published byGPP News Alertin February 2018, the platform and the GRASPINNO pilot tenders promote theEU GPP Criteria for Buildingsand help public bodies conduct procurement processes by rating ‘green’ products. GRASPINNO is based on the European Commission’s GPP Criteria, particularly those relating to office building design, construction and management.In the wake of the economic crisis, public authorities in Greece were reluctant to use GPP processes, Prof Stephanedes said. The project tried to demonstrate, using life cycle cost analysis, the long-term benefits of sustainability.One of the pilot tenders was for the installation of 13 photovoltaic systems in public buildings in Western Macedonia, Greece. The tender was prepared using the GRASPINNO tools, and the offers received were analysed using sustainability criteria.The project built on two earlier Mediterranean-area projects: Green procurement and smart city support in the energy sector (GRASP) and COEFFICIENT.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “GRASPINNO” is EUR 3 889 304, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 3 204 787 through the “Interreg Mediterranean” Cooperation Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Foster low carbon strategies and energy efficiency”.