Ratiboř

The E.ON Energy Globe competition recognizes environmental projects that help make the world a better place. A jury composed of members of the Czech Academy of Sciences selects the finalists, who will compete for the public’s votes. The goal is to find and showcase innovative approaches to environmental protection. Five projects have made it to the finals of the 18th annual E.ON Energy Globe competition, from which the public will select the winner.

You can vote for Ratiboř until August 31, 2026. The award ceremony for the winner and the best environmental project will take place on September 5, 2026, at the E.ON Ekofestival in České Budějovice.

Vote HERE and you could win valuable prizes.

Sustainable Ratiboř

Submitted by: Ratiboř Municipality
Project Representative: Martin Žabčík, Mayor of Ratiboř
Ambassador: Marek Lambora, actor

Do you think sustainability in municipalities focuses only on waste sorting and expanding green spaces? The village of Ratiboř proves that this is not the case. Generating its own energy, using residual heat from the community center’s kitchen to heat the building, a motivational system for recycling household waste, active rainwater management, restoring surrounding forests, creating ponds on its territory, and planting native fruit tree species are just some of the activities through which Ratiboř can inspire other municipalities.

Ratiboř is implementing a wide range of specific sustainable projects with a positive impact not only on the local environment but also with demonstrable benefits for the residents of this municipality in the Vsetín district. The projects are not focused on a single environmental goal but on many different ones. The municipality collaborates with architects, experts in energy, the environment, social services, community development, and smart technologies to improve the quality of life for residents in the long term. All of this is done with a focus on sustainability, reducing waste, and a strong emphasis on the environment.

Water and its use are among the top priorities in Ratiboř. Gutter systems on municipal buildings can store 120 m³ of water at a time, which is then used to irrigate the playground, municipal green spaces, or the cemetery. The municipal leadership is having paved areas with permeable surfaces constructed, which reduces the load on the sewer system and replenishes groundwater. As part of the European Be Ready project, Ratiboř had a bioclimatic bus stop installed with adiabatic cooling and a green roof. To address drought, ponds are being built in the local forests. Changes in forest management are leading to the restoration of mixed forests in place of stands decimated by the bark beetle. Another step toward landscape restoration was the planting of old fruit varieties typical of the Wallachia region in a local orchard.

Energy and waste are also managed efficiently. Thanks to installed photovoltaic panels, municipal buildings generate 130 MWh per year, which covers the municipality’s consumption. Surplus energy is shared or sold on, for example to electric vehicle chargers. In 2022, the municipality built a community center serving as a day care center for seniors. The building also hosts rehearsals for a folk ensemble, cultural and social events, lectures, training sessions, and exercise classes for seniors. The building is designed to passive house standards with heat recovery. Residual heat from the local restaurant’s kitchen is captured and subsequently used to heat a large portion of the building. The municipality handles the collection of municipal and sorted waste, as well as biowaste, on its own. Thanks to waste sorting, households can reduce their waste disposal fees. At the local recycling center, construction debris is processed and reused for road and sidewalk repairs.

What makes the project exceptional

• It offers a comprehensive solution for the municipality and the surrounding natural environment facing the most common environmental challenges of the modern era.
• It responsibly addresses water management, the production and use of its own electricity, and urban and landscape greenery, while motivating citizens to actively participate in change through a sophisticated waste management system.
• It presents an inspiring approach to local sustainability for other municipalities and cities.

Main benefits of the projectThanks to a set of ecological solutions, Ratiboř demonstrates that an active approach to sustainability helps municipalities achieve greater self-sufficiency in energy, water, and waste management. At the same time, it has a positive impact on the condition of the local landscape, water resources, and households themselves.

Vote HERE for a chance to win great prizes.