Prague - By the year 2020, the Czech Republic can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by half, and for a reasonable price - 80 euro (2,000 CZK) for every spared ton of carbon dioxide.
This is the summary of the findings of a study produced by Enviros company for Czech Environment Ministry. The document will serve as a basis for concrete proposals on greenhouse gas reduction as well as plans on how the Czech Republic should react to possible climatic changes.
"New climatic politic"
"We are going to supply the government with a new strategy on climate issues for the Czech Republic, by this fall," announced Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursík, adding that the Czech Republic can reduce greenhouse gases emissions as much as by 70 percent, however, with higher costs.
According the study, the country should introduce seven basic measures, which includes replacing coal as a source of energy with natural gas, using biomass in power and heat production, or utilizing fuels transport and heating more efficiently.
"Emissions of greenhouse gases produced in the Czech Republic in 2006 equaled 144 million tons of carbon dioxide. Consistent application of seven key measures would reduce this number by 46 million ton," informed Environment Ministry.
Green industry
At the same time, Duha ecological movement (Hnutí Duha) claimed that greenhouse gases reduction creates a chance for new, "green" branches of industry.
"Well insulated houses, modern biomass boilers, highly effective industrial technologies, cars with limited consumption, all of this will lower expenses for enterprises and households. However, these investments won't emerge by themselves. In order to use this opportunity, the government should introduce a new legal framework, tax reforms or grant programs that would produce an effective incentive," explained Vojtěch Kotecký from the Duha movement.
Colander-houses
The organization has recently introduced a study about heating in houses that was produced by a Prague consultant firm Prosenna. The study warns that an average Czech household that uses gas for heating could save as much as 15 thousand CZK (600 euro) every year, even today. The problem is, that Czech houses let out heat like upside-down colanders, the study found.
If it wasn't for the cosntruction and habits in many houses, families that use coal for heating would pay roughly 280 euro less.
"It appears that families can save as much as 175 petajoules every year on room heating, water heating and usage of electrical appliances. This is almost 60 percent of all the energy consumed in residential and administrative buildings," states the document with the study's results, which Aktuálně.cz has at their disposal.
