A programme for energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings on the territory of all Bulgarian municipalities is being launched at the beginning of November. 1.4 billion Leva has been provided for the purpose under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works has announced.

The funding is earmarked for the remediation of apartment buildings designed before April 1999, whatever the type of construction. To benefit from this financial assistance, homeowners need to register a homeowners’ association and prepare a technical passport of the building, as well as an energy performance audit.

The support for energy efficiency will be provided in two stages. During the first stage applications can be submitted until the end of March 2023, in this case the homeowners’ associations will receive a 100% grant for the remediation costs. The second stage of application will cover the period until the end of 2023. During this stage the homes approves will receive 80% of the costs under the plan, the remaining 20% will be covered by the homeowners.

The programme will finance activities such as replacing window frames, thermal insulation of walls, roofs and floors, installation of renewable energy sources, repair or replacement of heating, cooling and ventilation systems in the common parts of buildings, repair of electrical systems in the common parts, energy-efficient lighting etc.

A programme to finance activities connected with the installment of their own solar panels in support of Bulgarian households will be adopted by mid-November, the Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association on its part has announced. The sum earmarked for the purpose is 240 million Leva. This support will benefit energy-poor households in the country. They will be able to obtain full financing for projects for the construction of photovoltaics in single-family houses of up to 15,000 Leva.

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova