Five Stories From Five Countries (Final Conference)

The FinEERGo-Dom Final Conference event was part of the Central and Eastern Europe’s Energy Efficiency (C4E) Forum, taking place between the 23rd and 26th of May 2023, in the central location of Šamorín near Bratislava, Slovakia.

The conference captured a range of discussions focusing on energy efficiency, building renovation, and the broader context of environmental sustainability in Europe. The primary topics included:

- Overview of the FinEERGo-Dom Project: The project, which began over four years ago, aimed at replicating a financial model used in Latvia across several European countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Austria. This replication was designed to facilitate energy efficiency improvements in buildings.
- Policy and Legislative Context: The European Union’s broader policy goals, such as the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, were discussed. These policies aim to make the EU economy climate-neutral by 2050, with an interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. The importance of updating legislative frameworks to support energy efficiency initiatives was emphasized.
- Challenges in Building Renovation: A significant challenge is the low rate of energy renovations in the EU, with only about 1% of the building stock undergoing energy renovations annually. Barriers include difficulties in gaining consensus among homeowners, finding skilled contractors, and securing necessary financing.
- Financing and Investment Needs: The investment needs for achieving the 2030 energy efficiency goals are substantial, estimated at around 150 billion euros annually. The EU budget covers only a small part of these needs, indicating a significant role for private investments.
- Country-Specific Experiences and Strategies:
  - Austria: Discussed the state of Energy Service Contracting and its historical context, challenges in the residential sector, and the development of model contracts.
  - Slovakia: Covered the legal framework for Energy Contracting, challenges in renovating multifamily housing and public buildings, and potential solutions.
  - Bulgaria: Focused on adapting the Latvian financial model to Bulgarian specifics, dealing with subsidy-dependent markets, and integrating the project into national policy.
  - Romania: Presented a business case for energy-efficient investments, emphasizing the use of savings from energy costs to finance investments.

EPC Plus Model in Poland: Poland’s approach to addressing the identified challenges through the ESCO and EPC plus support program, which involves offering grants to housing owners that can be transferred to ESCO companies for project management and maintenance post-renovation.

The Final Conference garnered the participation of nearly 100 individuals, both online and in-person. It was marked by engaging and productive discussions, yielding positive feedback and fostering valuable networking opportunities. The conference recordings, together with the presentations from our partners, have been made available on the FinEERGo-Dom website and through our partners’ communication platforms. Highlighted below are some key moments from the event: