The citizens of the Republic of Moldova can benefit from non-reimbursable funds for increasing the energy efficiency of homes, the representative of the National Center for Sustainable Energy Ivan Gadiac stated in a public debate titled "Energy efficiency can (re)integrate Moldova", organized by IPN News Agency. The Residential Energy Efficiency Fund provides financial support in the form of a grant that covers up to 50% of the costs needed for energy efficiency works in homes.
The program aims to renovate a heated area of at least 507,000 square meters of buildings in the residential sector, i.e. about 8,500 apartments or about 5,000 individual houses. Also, by 2027, energy savings of at least 66.9 million kWh are to be achieved for household consumers, i.e. the equivalent of over 100 million lei.
"It is an energy efficiency fund for the residential sector. This fund is available from 2004 to 2007. The renovation of homes is its objective. From this fund, grants will be offered for increasing the energy efficiency of homes, both residential blocks and individual houses," said the representative of the National Center for Sustainable Energy.
Ivan Gadiac highlighted a significant contrast between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union countries in terms of energy consumption for heating. In the Republic of Moldova, about 50% of the energy consumed at national level is intended for heating buildings, while in European countries this indicator stands at only 15-20%.
"In terms of energy efficiency, we are not the best. And that's because most of the energy is spent in buildings, around 50% of the total energy. In other countries, this indicator stands at 15%-20%. But, as far as we know, buildings do not bring added value. In order for this indicator to be better, the country must have industry that brings money into the state budget," said Ivan Gadiac.
According to him, the main purpose of the Fund is to increase energy efficiency in the residential sector, an area considered a priority given that most of the buildings in the country were erected during the Soviet period, when the consumption of energy resources was not a major concern.
"Our buildings are mostly of Soviet type. They were built at a time when energy resources were very cheap and energy efficiency was not addressed. If we make the residential sector more energy efficient, this indicator will be reduced by half. Neither in the residential sector nor in public buildings are things good in terms of energy efficiency because energy efficiency in homes requires money, which citizens do not have. For example, the Energy Efficiency Fund covers 50% of the expenses necessary for the energy efficiency of a home. Various energy efficiency projects are proposed to citizens," said Ivan Gadiac.
The public debate entitled "The first lessons of the energy crisis in the Eastern region" was held as part of the project "IPN News Agency for Social Cohesion and a Pro-European Moldova", funded by IMS.
