Best Policy Practices

Best Policy Practices
The project success required the integration of a welltailored
legal framework, affordable financing, comprehensive
institutional support for homeowners, expanded and improved
services of local energy consultants and enhanced public
awareness of energy efficiency opportunities in residential
buildings. Because of the synergy between the stakeholders,
all bottlenecks were removed and the overall success of the
project was ensured.
To continue the successful activities that started with
the Energy Efficiency Housing Pilot Project, the Government
of Lithuania adopted a Housing Strategy at the beginning of
2004. The top three priorities of the strategy are to ensure
efficient use, sustainable management, and renovation and
modernization of the existing housing stock. The focus is on
education, raising public awareness, encouraging renovation
and modernization of residential buildings to increase their
energy efficiency, improving maintenance and administration
of multi-apartment buildings to optimize their value, supporting
low-income households in maintaining and renovating housing,
and establishing a sustainable housing-sector management
system.
One of three Lithuanian Housing Strategy programmes
is “Refurbishment of multifamily buildings”. Under the programme,
building problems will be identified through energy
audits and investment proposals will be put forward. Then, the
apartment owners will decide whether to finance the refurbishment
with their own funds or by taking a loan without a
mortgage. When the decision on financing has been taken,
the modernization measures will be implemented. The Lithuanian
Government provides a state grant (15%, 30% or 50%
– depending on the planned energy efficiency measures) and
support to low-income families. In 2005–2006 the state grant
was EUR 2.89 million and in 2007 it is planned to be EUR
4.3 million.
The intent is to refurbish 70% of multifamily buildings
built before 1993 by 2020 and save around 1.700 GWh,
worth EUR 55 million. That would reduce CO 2 emissions by
365,500 tons.
Link: www.bkagentura.lt
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