Over 4 billion leva will be invested in the energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings in the country by the end of 2029. This account includes funds from the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, the Just Transition Fund of the “Development of Regions“ Program 2021-2027 and the second stage of the National Energy Efficiency Program, which will launch by the end of this year. This was announced in Gabrovo by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Dora Yankova during the forum “Mayors Speak“.
She noted that the implementation of the approved 1038 projects under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan (RESP), through which about 150,000 Bulgarian citizens will have the opportunity to renovate their homes, is currently underway.
“The First National Energy Efficiency Program generates about 5000 citizens' associations throughout the country, of which 1968 residential blocks have been renovated, and the funds for the renovation of another 48 have been provided to the respective municipality on whose territory they are located. 3006 associations applied under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, of which 660 are repeat applications. This means that there is great energy and interest in society for citizens to renovate their homes, reducing energy costs and improving their standard of living. This obliges us to develop new incentives and tools through which to renovate the old housing stock“, the deputy regional minister also commented.
Dora Yankova informed that from July 1, payments to municipalities under already concluded energy efficiency contracts under the PVU will begin. Initially, about 33 million leva were planned, with the majority of them intended to cover the costs of households for a technical passport and energy audit, which were a necessary condition for applying for the PVU. According to the regulation, homeowners' associations with approved projects and concluded contracts receive their money back under Stage 1.
„We are trying to make up for the long delay from previous administrations. Thanks to the government's activity and the trust from the EC, we managed to preserve the entire resource for energy efficiency under the Energy Efficiency Programme“, Yankova also commented.
The Deputy Regional Minister also said that by the end of the year, the second stage of the National Energy Efficiency Programme will be launched, which has a resource of 2.5 billion leva until the end of 2029. “We are currently in discussion with the National Association of Municipalities and Professional Organizations to develop the methodological guidelines and rules for application and implementation. Our aim is to make the programme with the most simplified administrative procedures, without unnecessary burdens. At the same time, the programme will be fair and transparent, so that public resources are spent in the best way“, commented Yankova. According to her, it is very important to protect the interests of small settlements, because so far in 103 small municipalities there is not a single approved project for the renovation of buildings, although they were eligible under some of the programmes. Market consultations are also to be announced to determine the reference value of the price for the renovation of buildings. The goal is for construction companies to provide current prices for the values of materials and labor, taking into account inflation processes since 2023, in order to have market prices.
„We also have a debate ahead of us about a new housing strategy, the fight against energy poverty and access to housing. We must also discuss future renovation programs, so that they are not limited to thermal insulation and joinery, but to comprehensive energy renovation and management of buildings, an accessible environment, green measures, improving the entire environment around the block – lighting, parking, playgrounds, etc.“, Yankova also commented.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be seen HERE