OREANDA-NEWS. February 22, 2011. The government cabinet approved the sale of 0.5 million unused assigned amount units (AAUs) to the Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

The proceeds from the sale will be channelled into investments to make local government buildings more energy efficient. This will be the fourth such package primarily aimed at local government buildings. In selecting the buildings, preference was given to structures where potential net reduction in the CO2 emissions and the number of beneficiaries is potentially largest per million kroons invested. This ensures the maximum result in CO2 savings and increase in the quality of public service that impacts as many people as possible. For more information about the selection criteria, visit the following page on the Ministry of Finance website: http://www.fin.ee/index.php?id=106396 

The assistance is being given to schools, nursery schools, sports buildings, nursing homes, community centres, hospitals and other sites all over Estonia. The largest-scale renovations are panned at Karu nursing care centre, Otepaa Health Centre, the Sass nursery school in Tartu, the Rukkilill nursery school in Tartu, the Forselius Upper Secondary School in Tartu, Rakvere Social Assistance Centre and the Paasuke nursery school in Valga.

As a result of performing these projects, energy consumption will decrease, as will the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. In addition, the investments have a positive impact on the buildings’ indoor climate and the working environment as a whole, which will contribute to a rise in the level of the services provided to the population in these buildings. The investments will help maintain and create jobs in the construction sector and will reduce fixed costs on administering the buildings in future.

In total, 19 real estate properties will be renovated, of which 10 are educational, 5 cultural and 4 social welfare-oriented buildings.

The renovation of the buildings will be organized by the Riigi Kinnisvara AS along with the site owners and the Ministry of Finance will be responsible for implementing the projects.