German government makes energy efficiency top procurement criterion

The German government has agreed to make energy efficiency a key criterion for public procurement. In an "important step towards climate neutrality," procurers must "purchase goods and products with the highest available efficiency class" indicated by EU energy labels, the economy ministry said in a press release. "By consistently purchasing energy-efficient products and services, the Federal Government and its own departments are making a significant contribution to achieving the climate protection targets," said economy minister Peter Altmaier. "This means that a completely climate-neutral administration, which we want to achieve in the medium term, is no longer just wishful thinking".

Altmaiers ministry presented the new procurement guidelines as a replacement for expired previous legislation that was "comprehensively revised" on the basis of the government's 2030 climate package. Additionally, the government "plans to submit a general administrative regulation on climate-friendly public procurement in a second step to implement the cabinet decisions on the climate protection programme," the press release said. "This is to cover products and services that are particularly relevant to the climate."