Get a “Green Card” and receive rewards every time you buy eco-friendly products or use public transportation.

The Ministry of Environment announced Thursday the launch of Green Card which allows environmentally minded customers to receive up to 200,000 won ($191) a year in cash rewards for green consumption and energy-saving activities.

It was developed in cooperation with local payment service provider BC Card and will be issued by most of the nation’s major banks and card firms, ministry officials said.

There are four different kinds of reward programs.

For one, if card holders reduce the use of electricity, gas and water by 10 percent over six months, compared with the average usage of the past two years, they will receive a maximum of 70,000 won in rewards.

Another program offers bonuses when users buy eco-friendly products at major retail outlets and department stores, including E-mat, Lotte Mart and Homeplus. Consumers will receive 1 to 5 percent of product price in reward points.

Card users may choose rewards by using public transportation. Up to 20 percent of the bus and subway fares will be returned to card holders. In the case of high-speed train KTX and express buses, the maximum is set at 5 percent.

Application for the green card begins today at www.greencard.or.kr or at branches of seven Korean banks and card firms, such as Woori Bank, Hana SK Card, NH Nonghyup and the Industrial Bank of Korea. KB Card and Citibank will join next month.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)