GREEN LEASE CONTRACT Reaching energy and climate goals requires involving building users, to let them understand what energy savings can be achieved thanks to changes in their behaviour. Green lease contracts (GLCs) offer a model providing a structural platform for cooperation between building owners and tenants. Contracts are always energy-related, but they are often supplemented with information about choice of materials, waste management, information and training activities, and paving the way for more sustainable buildings. GLCs stimulate dialogue and continuous improvement, reaching for financial incentives if such a need arises. Various forms of GLCs can be developed for different kinds of buildings. A green lease contract can be applied for to all buildings in which energy efficiency can be increased. Signing a contract is fairly easy, but keeping it useful and alive is not. Key implementation challenges include a lack of time and motivation as well as poor communication. To overcome them, a contract should set up clear goals and impose an open and continuous dialogue between both parties. Collaboration is key to get the most out of the agreement and it will lower the buildings climate impact if its achieved. Keeping the dialogue alive increases the likelihood that the agreement and lowered energy use in the building will last.
VANSBROS FIRST GREEN LEASING CONTRACT Author: Benny Magnusson, Sustainable Building Cluster in Dalarna, Sweden
In May, the municipality property manager, Olle Wiking and Camilla Andersson, the principal of the Smedsbergsskolan, signed the municipality's first green lease contract. It is a major step towards more conscious environmental work for both the school and the municipality. The agreement means, that both parties will work to reduce energy and material use. It also states that both parties promise to choose environment friendly materials when refurbished or repaired the facility. A green lease contract gives the property owners the opportunity to contribute to a better environment. The municipality going to do an energy audit of the school, that will help them to priorities which energy measures will be best suited to implement. The school will focus on education on sustainability this will help teachers, students and parents to make greener choices and save energy. One project is to develop their recycling stations. In May 2020 the school organized an environmental day to celebrate their accomplishments. Vansbro municipality is proud taking this step and looking forward to signing more contracts in the future.
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Photo: The principal of the smedsbersskolan, Camilla Andersson, and the municipality's acting property manager, Olle Wiking, have just signed their first green lease agreement.
Target: Municipality’s, landlords, tenants, schools Planned outcome: Lower energy use and sustainability.
