Families in Ceadîr-Lunga benefit from the energy-efficient renovation of an old apartment block
Tenants of older apartment buildings can receive state support for the rehabilitation of their homes through a project managed by the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED). The renovations include thermal insulation of walls and roofs, replacement of old windows, and the installation of photovoltaic panels. Among the beneficiaries are 21 families from Ceadir-Lunga, who reside in a three-story apartment building that was constructed over 40 years ago.
This block of flats in Ceadîr-Lunga was built in 1982. The roof is damaged, and the exterior walls lack insulation, resulting in high heating bills.
"Every time there is rain or strong wind, there have been instances where the roof was torn off, causing significant problems for the tenants. Another issue is the building's thermal insulation. In the past, when these blocks were constructed, this was not considered," said a tenant.
"In winter, we pay between 1,000 and 1,200 lei per month for heating, even with compensation, and we still try to save by reducing our consumption," another tenant added.
The necessary renovations are costly, especially since the block is small and the expenses must be shared among a few tenants. As a result, residents have sought financing.
"Together we studied the program for this project, and after convening a general meeting of tenants, we decided to participate. An energy audit team came, took various measurements, and within the established deadlines, we received the energy audit report," said Veronica Draganova, president of the Tenants Association.
The energy audit outlined the work needed to reduce energy losses. A technical project will be developed next, which will also estimate the necessary investments. Tenants will only have to contribute money during the renovation phase, covering up to 25 percent of the costs.
"About 70% of the funding is provided by the Norwegian Government, and the City Hall will also support this process. We want to demonstrate, through this building, how energy efficiency measures can reduce natural gas losses in a block of flats by 35-40%. Additionally, we aim to partially reduce electricity consumption by utilizing alternative sources, such as solar energy," said Anatolii Topal, the mayor of Ceadâr-Lunga.
In addition to the block in Ceadir-Lunga, nine other blocks in Chișinău, Bălți, Edineț, Hâncești, and Cahul were selected for the development of technical project documentation for energy rehabilitation. This documentation is a crucial step in securing the necessary financing to carry out the rehabilitation works.
