The residential sector is the largest consumer of energy resources and the citizens must understand the need to implement energy efficiency measures. According to energy expert Veronica Hertsa, energy efficiency measures can be applied not only to individual houses, but also to residential buildings, if the dwellers are willing to do this, IPN notes.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Carolina Novac said that the authorities set the goal of reducing emissions and increasing the share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption. To achieve these desiderata, investments in the energy efficiency of the residential sector are needed, and the “Green House” was the first pilot project in this regard.
“Our goals are to reduce emissions by 68% by 2030 and reach the renewables target of 27% of the total energy consumption. For energy efficiency, the “Green House” project was previously implemented. It covered 220 individual houses. Photovoltaic panels were installed at some of these individual houses and biomass boilers at others. We aimed to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency. In addition to reducing emissions, we are actually aiming at reducing the value of bills. In the last two years, we massively benefited from support from other states and we had the capacity to provide on-bill compensation, but in the long run, we, as a country, must invest in energy efficiency measures,” Carolina Novac stated in the program “Freedom Territory”.
Energy expert Veronica Hertsa said that the benefits of energy efficiency of the residential sector are reflected in bills and they considerably reduce their value. The state and foreign partners support energy efficiency measures applied to both individual houses and residential buildings.
“In the Republic of Moldova, we have 100 million square meters of space, of which 87% belong to the residential sector and only 13% represent public institutions. We have the Residential Sector Support Fund because this sector is the largest consumer of energy resources. If we compare several residential buildings, such as the residential block in which the heating distribution system was changed, a block in which the distribution system was changed and it was insulated and a block in which no energy efficiency measure was taken, we will have three different indicators. It is welcome that in the public space they now emphasize that energy efficiency measures can also be made in residential buildings. Energy efficiency measures can still be taken in blocks, but, for the purpose, there must be a community in the form of an association of dwellers willing to do this,” stated Vernica Hertsa.
According to the Ministry of Energy’s data, over 70% of the residential buildings in Moldova have a low level of energy efficiency and the population pays for energy losses through bills.
