Dora Yankova: Over BGN 4 billion will be invested in energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings in the country by the end of 2029

From 1 July, the State returns the money to the owners’ associations for a technical passport and an energy audit of the approved Stage 1 units of the RRP

Over BGN 4 billion will be invested in the energy efficiency of multi-apartment buildings in the country by the end of 2029. This account includes the funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Just Transition Fund of the Regional Development Programme 2021-2027 and the second stage of the National Energy Efficiency Programme, which will be launched by the end of this year. This was announced in Gabrovo by Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Dora Yankova. She participated in the Mayors Speak Forum organised by EnEffect and the Municipality of Gabrovo. It was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Mayor of Gabrovo Tanya Hristova, Executive Director of the Fund of Funds Alexander Nenkov, Executive Director of EnEFekt Dragomir Tsanev, mayors of municipalities, representatives of local and central government from all over the country, international partners from Spain, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Finland, representatives of business, the non-governmental sector, etc.

Deputy Minister Yankova noted that the implementation of the approved 1038 projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) is currently underway, through which about 150 000 Bulgarian citizens will have the opportunity to renovate their homes. In this regard, she congratulated the Mayor of Gabrovo for the initiative and informed that under the two stages of the program, a total of 24 residential blocks with 807 dwellings in them, with 77,000 square meters of built-up area worth BGN 22.5 million, will be renovated in the municipality.

‘The first national energy efficiency programme generated around 5000 citizens’ associations across the country, of which 1968 housing units were renovated, while the funds for the renovation of another 48 were allocated to the municipality on whose territory they are located. The Recovery and Resilience Plan was applied for by 3006 associations, of which 660 are repetitive. This means that there is a great deal of energy and interest in society for citizens to renovate their homes, reducing energy expenditure and improving their standard of living. This obliges us to develop new incentives and tools to renovate the old housing stock", the Deputy Regional Minister further commented.

Dora Yankova informed that from 1 July the payments to the municipalities under the already concluded contracts for energy efficiency under the RRP will start. Initially, about BGN 33 million were allocated, the majority of which was intended to cover household expenses for a technical passport and an energy audit, which were a necessary condition for applying for the RRP. According to the regulation, owners' associations with approved projects and concluded contracts receive their money back under Stage 1.

“We are trying to catch up with the long delays from previous administrations. Thanks to the activity of the government and the trust of the EC, we were able to preserve the entire resource for energy efficiency under the RRP, "said Yankova.

The Deputy Regional Minister also said that the second phase of the National Energy Efficiency Programme, with a resource of BGN 2.5 billion until the end of 2029, will be launched by the end of the year. “We are currently developing methodological guidelines and rules for application and implementation in discussion with the National Association of Municipalities and Professional Organisations. Our goal is to make the program as light as possible administrative procedures, without unnecessary burdens. At the same time, the programme will be fair and transparent in order to spend the public resource in the best possible way", commented Yankova. According to her, it is very important to protect the interest of small settlements, because so far in 103 small municipalities there is not a single approved building renovation project, although they were eligible under some of the programmes. Market consultations to determine the reference value of the price for building renovations are also to be announced. The aim is for construction companies to give up-to-date prices for the values of materials and labor, in view of the inflationary processes since 2023, in order to have market prices.

"We also have a debate on a new housing strategy, the fight against energy poverty and access to housing. We also need to discuss future renovation programmes, which should not be limited to thermal insulation and joinery, but for overall energy renovation and management of buildings, accessible environment, green measures, improvement of the whole environment around the block - lighting, parking, playgrounds, etc.", Yankova further commented.