05.10.2021.
The programme of energy renovation of family houses was presented today in Labin. The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund organised a workshop in cooperation with Istria County and the Town of Labin, where interested citizens could learn about the co-financing of energy efficiency measures in their homes. The goal of the scheme is to promote these types of projects through co-financing resulting in lower utility costs for the citizens and improving the quality of life.The compliance of these intentions with the implementation of the European Green Deal was confirmed by the mayor of Labin, Valter Glavičić. “We have more than 90 budlings in Labin that were renovated in line with the energy performance standards, and we must be leaders in per capita renovation in Croatia. In this area two out of three buildings are family houses, where heating is the biggest problem. The first phase of improving energy efficiency is structural renovation, while the second phase is the use of renewable energy sources,” explained Glavičić. He added that the town had provided the financing of project documentation for around 30 PV power plants, and it was planned to continue with this scheme in the upcoming years. “We are planning cooperation with the Fund on other projects, e-mobility being one of them,” he announced, and underlined that our lifestyle directly affects climate change. That is why he believes it is important to motivate the citizens and raise their awareness not only of energy efficiency, but about environmental protection in general.
The deputy mayor of Istria County, Tulio Demetlika, had words of praise for the activities the Fund was implementing, and he underscored the importance of such information and education activities contributing to raising public awareness. Istria, and Labin in particular, was one of the leaders in terms of energy renovation in the building sector. Projects like these contribute to reducing harmful emissions and achieving energy self-sufficiency, from the smallest projects on family houses, to the larger ones in apartment and public buildings, and the most complex ones in industrial plants. In the upcoming operational period 2021 – 2027, the EU funds envisage significant funding for the green transition, energy efficiency and digitalisation, and they should be utilised to the greatest possible extent.
The head of the Energy Efficiency Sector, Maja Rajčić, said that the Fund had allocated HRK 300 million for co-financing the measures such as thermal insulation of the envelope, replacement of windows, and the installation of the renewable energy systems, including PV power plants. Thermal insulation of the building envelope or a comprehensive energy renovation will be co-financed with up to 60% for the houses in the energy category D or lower in continental, or C or lower in coastal Croatia. The funding is also available solely for the use of renewable energy sources, either for the heating systems or electricity generation. However, these funds are available only for the houses in the energy category C or higher, or B or higher in the continental and coastal part of Croatia respectively, the grant amounting to 40, 60 or 80%, depending on the location.
“As part of the information campaign, the Fund is holding a number of workshops in all parts of Croatia, aimed at showing the citizens the process of applying for co-financing. We have simplified the requirements as much as possible, and we have even cut back on the required documentation compared to the previous years,” said Rajčić. She advised the citizens to create their user accounts on the Fund’s website now, so that on 14 October at 9:00 they could log in, fill out the application form and upload all the required documentation.
“For the people who are not so computer savvy, we have provided the option to hire the help of the energy auditor, consultant or third persons,” said Rajčić. The Fund will provide 500 kn for this service, and the amount would be paid together with other energy renovation costs, based on an invoice or service contract.
In the area of Labin, the citizens can get help at the building management company Labin stan, known for many successful energy renovation projects in apartment buildings. “Since currently there are not calls for the energy renovation of apartment buildings, we’ve decided to offer our knowhow to the citizens,” said the company manager Dolores Sorić. “Last year we have successfully applied 14 houses, and now eh have some 15 that we are prepping for this year’s call,” said Sorić.
During the workshop, the employees of the Fund answered the questions the citizens had. They also advised those who had the documentation ready and waiting to obtain new quotes from contractors due to a change in market prices, and they also drew their attention to the new applicant’s statement form.
The attendees were satisfied with the information they obtained, and they had the majority of the documents already prepared. They were particularly concentrated on the demonstration of the e-Applications system, they will have to use to submit their applications starting from 14 October at 9.00. if their applications are successful, they will have a deadline of two years to complete the works, and after that, also for two years, that thy will have to keep permanent residence at this address.
