New round of EcoVoucher program: around 3,000 families to be able to replace old household appliances with new, energy-efficient equipment

About 3,000 families in the Republic of Moldova will be able, starting today, to benefit from a new round of the Household Appliance Voucher Program, financed by the European Union and aimed at reducing household energy consumption.

The EcoVoucher program provides financial support for replacing old household appliances with new, energy-efficient equipment, thereby helping to lower electricity bills and promote responsible consumption. The initiative is part of joint efforts by the authorities and external partners to improve energy efficiency in the residential sector.

According to the National Center for Sustainable Energy, beneficiaries will be able to use vouchers worth up to 6,000 lei, covering up to 70% of the cost of eligible appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, provided that European (CE) energy efficiency and compliance standards are met.

The Center’s director, Ion Muntean, stated that the results of previous editions of the program show significant savings for households and a change in behavior among consumers, who now pay increased attention to energy efficiency. The total budget for this round is estimated at around one million euros and is provided by the European Union through the project “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Republic of Moldova” (E4M), implemented by GIZ.

The EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Iwona Piórko, emphasized that the program contributes both to reducing household bills and to lowering carbon dioxide emissions, supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy model. In the current edition, vouchers will be granted with priority to large families and people over 63 years of age.

At the same time, 10% of the total number of vouchers will be reserved for people with severe disabilities, based on the specific needs of their household. To access the program, beneficiaries must be registered in the “Energy Vulnerability” information system and will be notified by SMS or e-mail. The vouchers will be used via the compensatii.gov.md platform, with the obligation to hand in an old appliance of the same type.

Official data show that since the launch of the program, more than 40,000 appliances have been replaced, generating total savings of over 6.5 million kWh, the equivalent of more than 24 million lei. Estimates indicate annual savings of about 8.15 million kWh, or approximately 30.1 million lei.

The EcoVoucher program is developed by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of the European Union, within the E4M project funded by international partners, including Germany, Norway and Denmark.