Over 11,000 households in Sofia have replaced their heating appliances with environmentally friendly ones under programs of the Sofia Municipality, they announced, recalling that from January 1, 2025, a low-emission zone has been in effect for nine Sofia districts.
The ban on solid fuel heating covers the districts of "Sredets", "Krasno Selo", "Izgrev", "Ilinden", "Studentski", "Oborishte", "Vazrazhdane", "Lozenets", "Triaditsa".
The measure was adopted by a decision of the Sofia Municipal Council in 2022 and is aimed at buildings and places with a heat transfer or gas distribution network. From 2029, the domestic heating incommissioning zone will apply to the entire territory of Sofia Municipality.
In order to support households that fall into the restricted zone, but also to encourage residents of all of Sofia to choose more environmentally friendly alternatives for heating during the winter season, the Sofia Municipality is conducting an active campaign to replace heating appliances. 11,127 households have been replaced under the two completed projects – LIFE IP CLEAN AIR (3,195 households) and a project under the Operational Program – "Environment 2014-2020" (7,932 households). Within the framework of these projects, over 20,000 new, environmentally friendly appliances have been delivered and installed - mainly high-efficiency air conditioners, pellet boilers and natural gas appliances.
New opportunities for replacement are provided by the "Environment 2021-2027" program, the Municipality states. The collection of preliminary applications for the new project "Replacement of heating devices in households for cleaner air!" continues, in which over 4,500 households have already expressed their intention to participate. The aim of the project is to support up to 10,000 households that are heated with wood and coal, by delivering and installing nearly 16,800 new heating devices.
The project offers for the first time the opportunity to build photovoltaic systems for energy production for own consumption for households in single-family houses receiving energy subsidies and choosing electric heating (air conditioners).
The Municipality recalls that heating with wood and coal remains the most significant air pollutant in the capital. 56% of total pollution is due to it, and during the cold months up to 80% of the registered excesses of fine particulate matter (PM) are directly related to the combustion of solid fuel.
BTA recalls that from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, the low-emission zone for polluting cars is in force.