Berlin/Bonn, September 19, 2019. "These days, we are standing alongside Fridays for Future and calling for consistent climate protection. At the same time, we ourselves are also asked to reduce our CO2 emissions. The cooperation is intended to level the way for this and also set an example," says AWO board member Brigitte Döcker, explaining the motivation for the new cooperation. Switching to green electricity can be an important measure for effectively reducing the emissions of social work facilities and services in the short term. For example, the CO2 emissions per care place can be reduced by 10 to 15 percent in the short term by purchasing electricity from renewable energy sources. Hardly any other measure can be implemented so effectively.

But not all green electricity is the same, as Daniel Craffonara, managing director of Grüner Strom Label e.V., explains: "A low-emission and ecological energy supply is a cornerstone for overcoming the climate crisis. However, most so-called green electricity products have no measurable impact on the expansion of renewable energies. But we must press ahead with this. Because climate change is already in full swing and we don't have an Earth 2.0."

The cooperation forms a basis on which framework agreements are concluded with individual electricity providers. This gives AWO facilities and services transparent and uncomplicated access to credible and effective green electricity products. In addition, the AWO and the Green Electricity Label are setting up a support program together with the electricity suppliers. This supports facilities and services in implementing energy transition projects on site. "We have an extraordinarily large building stock whose roof surfaces are too rarely used for solar energy," explains Döcker. Facilities that want to change that can apply to the AWO Bundesverband for funding from investment funds from green energy providers.

"Each of our electricity providers is obliged to reinvest part of its revenue in energy transition projects. With this cooperation, we enable AWO facilities to benefit from Green Electricity funding. It is important to us that public welfare-oriented institutions and the people who work, live or spend their leisure time there also benefit directly from the expansion of renewable energies," adds Craffonara. The condition for the subsidy is the purchase of electricity in accordance with the standards of the Green Electricity Label. This is intended to create an additional incentive for the switch.

With a view to the financial framework conditions, AWO board member Brigitte Döcker also sees a need for political action: "Institutions are sometimes forced to choose electricity tariffs that are harmful to the climate for price reasons. This must change urgently: The purchase of genuine green electricity must be anchored as a principle in the financing of social work."

Keywords
AWO, green electricity, green power, energy transition, cooperation, Fridays for Future, climate change, climate crisis

About AWO Bundesverband e.V.
The Workers' Welfare Association is one of the six umbrella organizations of the voluntary welfare sector and is supported nationwide by more than 335,000 members, 66,000 volunteers and 225,000 full-time employees. www.awo.org

About Grüner Strom Label e.V.
The Grüner Strom Label e.V. certifies green energy products. The association awards two seals of approval for this purpose: the Grüner Strom-Label for green electricity with added value and the Grünes Gas-Label for environmentally compatible biogas. The association is backed by non-profit environmental and consumer associations and peace organizations, including NABU, BUND, EUROSOLAR and the Verbraucher Initiative. Grüner Storm-Label or Grünes Gas-Label are the only seals of approval for green electricity and biogas in Germany that are supported and recommended by leading environmental associations. www.gruenerstromlabel.de

Contact

Grüner Strom Label e.V.
Kaiserstrasse 113 | 53113 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 522 611-90
Fax: 0228 / 522 611-91
www.gruenerstromlabel.de