Nearly BGN 2.2 billion are provided for energy renovation of residential and public buildings

Nearly BGN 2.2 billion for energy renovation of residential and public buildings will be invested by 2027. The funds come from two sources - the National Plan for Reconstruction and Sustainability and the Regional Development Program. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Stefan Asparuhov at the conference "Towards energy efficient and climate neutral building stock".

Of the total resource that will improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the country, BGN 370 million are provided under the National Plan for Restoration and Sustainability for energy renovation of public buildings. Another BGN 235 million will be allocated for buildings in the field of production, trade and services.

The Plan will also provide BGN 1.2 billion for energy renovation of residential buildings. The funds will be used to provide financial, organisational and technical assistance for the energy renovation of multi-family residential buildings. This project envisages support for two groups of multi-family residential buildings with different financing parameters according to the application period of the associations of building owners.

The 2021-2027 Regional Development Program will also fund measures to improve energy efficiency and renovate residential and public buildings. The resource here is BGN 356 million. Funding will be provided for buildings on the territory of the fifty largest urban municipalities. Energy efficiency measures will be implemented, including structural reinforcement, heating and air conditioning systems, integrated on-site renewable energy installations, energy storage equipment, electric vehicle charging equipment, digitalisation of buildings and others.

Deputy Minister Asparuhov explained that in the direction of reforming the housing policy and facilitating the implementation of projects for energy renovation of the building stock, the establishment of units on the principle of one-stop shop is envisaged. The idea is to create specialized one-stop shops in all NUTS-3 regions or the relevant administrative area, where designers, consultants, building owners and businesses will receive the necessary information. The units will consult on many aspects of the renovation, connecting building owners, households and businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, with professional service providers and monitoring the results achieved.

"This will facilitate the implementation of projects throughout the project cycle of the renovation process, increase demand for energy efficient services by improving awareness of benefits, trust and motivation among building owners and providing a structured mechanism for obtaining comprehensive information", stressed Asparuhov and added that the goal is to overcome administrative barriers and stimulate the attraction of private investment.

In order to facilitate and increase the efficiency of investments in energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is also working on amendments to the Condominium Management Act, it became clear from the words of Stefan Asparuhov. The changes are aimed at facilitating the owners in making decisions in connection with the energy renovation of their homes and at the same time regulating and stimulating the professional management of condominiums.