Romanian banks, like European banks, switched to energy saving programs. Some seek to install photovoltaic panels on buildings, others turn off lighting at night and replace traditional light bulbs with LED ones.

BRD: We are exploring the possibility of placing photovoltaic panels on our buildings to benefit from self-sourced green energy

Société Générale and the BRD group have had a program to collect data on internal consumption and calculate the carbon footprint since 2010, according to a response sent to HotNews by BRD representatives. We have created a program where we want to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019. As an interim step, we proposed to reduce carbon consumption and emissions by 30% in 2023 compared to 2019.

Measures taken by BRD:

• Installation of centralized measurement and control systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in as many buildings as possible, which will lead to a decrease in energy consumption

• We have replaced LED lighting fixtures in our buildings approximately 85% of the time, and we want to reach a percentage as close to 100% as possible by the end of the year

• Another project that started last year, but which we want to continue, is the purchase of 100% green energy

• We have begun to explore the possibility of placing photovoltaic panels on our buildings in order to benefit from green energy from our own source, as close as possible to the consumer

• As part of the modernization works, as well as in a timely manner, if the equipment is older than 10 years, we offered to replace it with new generation equipment with a higher energy class, for example: condensing heating units, air conditioning units with inverter technology. , modular UPS sources of the appropriate size with a power factor as close as possible to 1, other IT equipment and household appliances with a higher energy consumption class

BCR

It can be said that a number of measures to reduce energy consumption have already been taken at the BCR headquarters and branches, BCR representatives said in their response.

Activities include:

• replacement of air conditioning and heating systems with the latest generation with lower energy consumption;

• replacement of lighting systems with LED ones, where they have not yet been installed;

• installation of motion sensors for lighting systems so that they are automatically turned on only when needed;

• installation of twilight sensors and programmers for the operation of external signs.

We are at the stage of analyzing the additional measures we will take to further reduce consumption, BCR representatives also say.

Among the measures we are currently considering are reducing the temperature in winter (and increasing the ambient temperature in summer), turning off signs at night, automatically turning off monitors at night, and installing devices that allow remote control of lighting and heating. and cooling systems.

An additional item we want to add here as information is that 75% of the electricity consumed by BCR in 2022 is green energy.

ING Bank: The building that houses the headquarters of ING Bank Romania is considered one of the most efficient office buildings in Romania

Measures to reduce energy consumption and attempts to transition to energy from renewable sources are a constant concern under the sustainable development approach. Every 6 months we collect data on ING Bank’s consumption and take action to achieve our goals, such as reducing CO2 emissions from transport and buildings by 75% by 2025 or reducing energy consumption by 65% ​​by 2030 (relative to 2014 consumption). , says the response of ING Bank representatives

The European Commission’s recommendation for a voluntary reduction of 15% has led us to outline a more ambitious plan for this autumn, a plan which has been launched and will be completed in October and includes adjustments to the building’s air conditioning and lighting systems. . In addition, the building that houses the headquarters of ING Bank Romania (Expo Business Park) is recognized as one of the most efficient office buildings in Romania, certified BREEAM Outstanding.

EximBank: We are already implementing a project aimed at gradually replacing classical lighting with LED technology, reducing electricity consumption by 40%-60%.

EximBank Group joins the register of organizations interested in adopting a responsible approach that integrates best practices of sustainable development, EximBank representatives told us.

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“The group has defined its goals and established strategic measures for the sustainable activity of member companies through the prism of the concept of “double materiality”, namely the impact of environmental, social and management factors on the group’s financial indicators, along with the group’s impact on the environment and society. EximBank Group’s sustainability strategy goals are focused on three pillars – environment, social and governance, where reducing energy consumption is one of the environmental components.

Therefore, regardless of the current energy context, but in line with the steps taken at the community level to reduce energy consumption, EximBank Group already has an energy efficiency project. It is aimed at the gradual replacement of classical lighting with LED technology, which will lead to a decrease in electricity consumption by 40-60%. The project will take place both at EximBank’s current head office and at the Group’s branch offices, and will involve the replacement of approximately half of the existing illuminated signs at the level of the Group’s branches (EximBank and Banca Românească) with LED lamps.

The group will continue to implement projects aimed at improving both internal processes to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, as well as align the financing strategy with the regulations on sustainable development, and will adjust its decisions according to current developments, as it has done. far.

OTP Bank: We will turn off the illumination of the light boards at night in the branches, respectively, from 24.00 to 06.00

Issues of sustainable development are a priority in the bank’s activities, so we constantly encourage employees to take a responsible attitude towards the environment, reducing energy, water, paper and carbon footprint. This is something that is under the control of us, all of us, that brings significant long-term benefits, OTP Bank representatives wrote to us.

We are aware of all these benefits, so reducing electricity consumption remains our priority, especially in the current environment. In particular, we will turn off the lighting of the light panels at night in the departments, respectively, from 24.00 to 06.00. “Of course, our strategy includes other measures to reduce consumption in the head office and branches, which we want to start implementing as soon as possible,” the bank notes.

Several European banks are preparing back-up generators and dimming the lights in case of possible power outages

As Russia cuts gas supplies to the European continent, banks are conducting stress tests to assess how they can cope with power outages and preparing alternative power sources such as generators to keep ATMs and online banking services running.

Financial sector firms especially need to take action, given how important payments and transactions are to the European economy, which has already suffered from the consequences of the war in Ukraine, Agerpres notes.

The American banking group JPMorgan, which has several thousand employees in London and Frankfurt, conducted several simulations aimed at cutting off the power supply, a source close to the matter told Reuters.

Depending on how severe the disruptions are, the bank may switch to diesel generators to keep its offices running for a few days, the source added.

UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, also conducted tests on its operational sustainability over the summer, a bank source said. The latest tests focused on the stability of data processing operations, the source said, adding that the bank’s two main data centers are powered by two separate plants. Banks have also begun to take notable steps in response to the energy crisis, such as reducing office space and regrouping staff in fewer buildings.

Deutsche Bank has announced it will implement a series of energy-saving measures across its 1,400 buildings in Germany to save 4.9 million kWh a year, enough to power 49,000 light bulbs for an hour. The German banking giant decided to stop the supply of hot water to the toilets, lower the temperature in the workplaces and turn off the lighting of the outdoor advertising boards at night.