EIB supports energy efficiency of 400 residential buildings in Bucharest

In total, 400 residential buildings will benefit from upgraded energy efficiency under this third phase, in addition to the 452 buildings under the first two phases.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend EUR 21.1m, the first tranche of an approved EIB loan of EUR 63.6m, for financing the third phase of the energy efficiency investment programme of Bucharest Sector 2. In total, 400 residential buildings will benefit from upgraded energy efficiency under this third phase, in addition to the 452 buildings under the first two phases.

EIB Vice-President Andrew McDowell commented: “EIB funds will help to increase the energy efficiency of 400 residential buildings in Bucharest’s Sector 2. The resulting decrease of energy consumption, and thus a reduction in emissions and pollution, will also contribute to raising the living standards of Bucharest’s citizens. This climate action-focused programme will further support Romania in meeting its international commitments regarding greenhouse emission reductions and energy savings.”

The Mayor of Bucharest’s Sector 2 Mihai Mugur Toader stated: “The loan signed today will enable us to continue with the largest thermal rehabilitation programme in Romania, which involves almost 1,800 blocks that are in various stages of execution, most of them being completed. It builds upon the fruitful seven-year cooperation between Sector 2 of Bucharest and the EU bank, in the course of which we have also benefited from EIB technical assistance. This cooperation has helped us to prepare and successfully implement joint projects leading to the improvement of living conditions for our citizens, valuable energy savings and a better environment in the Romanian capital”.

The improved thermal insulation of buildings will lead to 50% savings in the heating energy consumption of the houses concerned. EIB funds will finance up to 75% of the costs of this significant energy saving project, helping to implement both the Romanian Government’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan and the EU Resource Efficiency Initiative.

The current operations represent a continuation of the EIB’s fruitful cooperation with various sectors of Bucharest. To date, the Bank has approved funding amounting to EUR 613m to finance the energy-efficient refurbishment of multi-apartment buildings in different sectors of Bucharest.

This includes:

·         the rehabilitation 2,405 residential buildings with 143,300 apartments;

·         the construction of educational facilities, including NZEB (Near-Zero Energy Buildings) and energy efficiency upgrades for afterschool facilities resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced emissions.

The total energy savings achieved or envisaged as a result of the energy efficiency measures the amount to 983,000 GWh per year, corresponding to 416,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction.