Dragomir Tsanev: In Bulgaria, it is not yet clear who is energy poor
If we want to have working energy programs, there must be self-participation of households who can afford it, the expert believes
We still do not have the opportunity to determine at the national level who is energy poor. This was explained to the Bulgarian National Radio by Dragomir Tsanev, executive director of the "EnEffect Center for Energy Efficiency" foundation, after it became clear that our country could have nearly 5 billion leva from the European Climate Fund to distribute among needy households.
These 5 billion will reach a very small part of energy poor households, Tsanev predicts.
"The program has been consulted with the European Commission and a large number of non-governmental associations, but, unfortunately, the deficits that we identified persist."
He also noted as a problem that "we are once again moving towards a model of complete centralization.
"Everything is being implemented by public authorities, without the participation of property owners - something that does not yield any results."
The government is planning 1.6 billion leva for the renovation of multi-family residential buildings, the executive director of the EnEffect Center for Energy Efficiency Foundation explained.
Tsanev predicts that these funds will only reach 2.5% of people who are energy poor in our country. There are over one million households in need.
For the first time, renovation of single-family buildings is also planned, he explained. "There are the most energy poor there. But here too it is difficult to determine which of the property owners is such."
As positive steps, he noted the programs' focus on replacing windows, doors and thermal insulation, as well as installing heat pump systems.
If we want to have working energy programs, there must also be self-participation by households who can afford it, Tsanev summarized.