Croatian Government secures more money for boosting energy efficiency

The Croatian government decided to increase the funding for projects aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of public and apartment buildings from the European Regional Development Fund. More money has also been secured for renewable energy sources for schools and nurseries, the Ministry of Construction and Spatial Planning said.

The decisions to increase the funding for projects to raise the level of energy efficiency in public buildings and housing was taken jointly by Minister Lovre Kuščević and Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds Gabrijela Žalac. The funds will be allocated to projects submitted in two public tenders.

Lovrić told the media in Zagreb that the Croatian government decided to extend the financing for an energy renewal program for public buildings which was started in 2014 and was meant to last through 2015. He added that the funds are being allocated for contracted projects including work on several hospitals and clinics across Croatia, the Police Academy in Zagreb, a sports center, a prison and a prison hospital and a university building as well as schools and nurseries.

The restoration of those buildings will bring energy savings of 51.5 million kWh a year, Minister Kuščević said and added that 223 projects were submitted for public buildings.

The Croatian government also decided on a big increase in the funds to increase the energy efficiency of apartment buildings from the current EUR 20 million to EUR 75 million. A total of 596 projects were submitted, the minister said. Those projects are aimed a lowering power consumption for heating in winter and air conditioning in summer.

The Croatian media said there would more than 1,000 construction sites in the country within the projects to increase the energy efficiency of public buildings and housing over the next year, adding that the projects are to be completed next year.

Minister Gabrijela Žalac said that almost EUR 75 million of the planned EUR 100 million in grants for energy efficiency projects for apartment buildings had already been allocated.