Energy poverty and air pollution are the main topics of a regional conference organized by the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy, which is part of the program of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and will be looking for ways to reduce energy poverty of people through energy saving projects, Deputy Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said.

The Minister added that work on the definition of energy poverty was still underway. The aim of energy efficiency measures was to ensure a better standard of living. Short-term measures were direct payments of energy bills but more important were long-term measures aimed at reducing consumption.

Bulgarians who cannot keep their homes warm enough are nearly 40%, as this is the highest level in the EU, where people affected by energy poverty are 8% averagely.