Davor Pinturić
Episode · #572
ZGRADONAČELNIK Davor Pinturić
Guest Davor PinturićHosted by Darko BukovićMay 3, 2026
Davor Pinturić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
The national system for energy management in Croatian public buildings — ISGE — lives inside APN, an agency primarily known for housing loans. This unexpected home, alongside the guest's own lengthy bureaucratic title, hints at the complexities of public sector innovation. Davor Pinturić, the national system administrator for ISGE, explains how this information system came to be, what it reveals about energy consumption across thousands of government properties, and how it drives savings without necessarily requiring major construction. Readers will understand how systematic data collection and the daily habits of occupants contribute to energy efficiency, even within the constraints of existing infrastructure.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The Information System for Energy Management (ISGE) began as a UN development project in 2007, not a permanent government fixture. It was only after proving its value with "savings in kilowatt-hours and in money" by 2014 that a decision was made to keep the system alive. Initiatives that demonstrate clear, measurable results are the ones that secure their own future beyond initial project mandates.
02
Without a dedicated Ministry of Energy, the ISGE system found its home in APN, the Agency for Legal Transactions and Real Estate Brokerage, an institution better known for housing subsidies. When direct institutional alignment is absent, new public functions often land in departments with a tangential connection, highlighting the adaptable nature of government operations.
03
Davor Pinturić identifies two equal drivers of energy savings in public buildings: 50% comes from systematic, continuous monitoring through ISGE, and "the other 50% is just the behavior of the users in those buildings." Half of all efficiency gains come not from technology or infrastructure, but from the daily habits of the people inside.
04
Studies showed that simply tracking consumption through ISGE, without any major renovations like new facades or boiler replacements, led to "four to five percent savings" annually across Croatia. Data visibility alone is a powerful lever for reducing energy consumption, even before any physical changes are made to a building.
05
Of the nearly 16,000 physical buildings tracked by ISGE, many are old, and some are protected cultural heritage sites, making large-scale energy retrofits impractical or impossible. When structural changes are not an option, the focus for energy management must shift entirely to operational efficiency and user behavior.
06
Pinturić describes ISGE as "a really good tool" for systematic consumption tracking, but quickly adds, "if someone knows how to apply it." The most sophisticated data system is only as effective as the human capacity to interpret and act on its insights.