Present buildings, new ones to have to observe minimal requirements of energy efficiency in Moldova

Chisinau, 27 October /MOLDPRES/ - The present buildings and the new ones will have to observe a set of minimal requirements as regards the energy efficiency, such as thermal insulation of walls, the change of doors and windows, installations for heating and preparing domestic hot water or replacement of the illumination system.

To this end, the Energy Ministry, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Moldova), through the Moldova Energy Security Activity Project (MESA), and in partnership with the Agency for Energy Efficiency, elaborated a string of minimal requirements for the improvement of the energy efficiency in the case of nine types of buildings, including individual houses, blocks of flats, buildings of offices, buildings of the educational and medical system, hotels and restaurants.

The requirements worked out result from a feasibility study on a representative sample of 1,500 buildings, analyzing both the expenses for energy from the last two years and the volume of investments needed in the energy efficiency sector in EU.

At the same time, following the requirements’ implementation, the buildings will be able to be certified from the energy viewpoint, so that the potential buyers/residents are informed about the energy efficiency of the real estate. „We have made progress in terms management of the energy crises; now, we focus on the agenda of de-carbonization, where the priority is the energy efficiency. The buildings consume almost a half of the energy resources and the improvement of the energy performance brings benefits to each consumer, reducing the consumption, the costs in invoices and the emissions of CO2,’’ Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said.

„The enforcement of these standards will generate an efficient consumption of energy resources, will enhance the degree of comfort in dwellings, as well as will facilitate Moldova’s transition to a green, sustainable and clean energy future,’’ MESA director Armen Arzumanyan said.

Also, MESA tests a new mechanism of financing energy efficiency projects meant for public buildings, called Super ESCO, through which the real estate will be renovated at the expense of savings of energy, attracting a combination of financial sources, such as budgetary resources, private investments, loans or resources of beneficiaries.

Photo: Energy Ministry