Regional GIZ Workshop on National Building Renovation Strategy held in Belgrade

Authors: Berina Delalić, GIZ ORF-EE and Svjetlana Đokić, GIZ DKTI Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Serbia

Acknowledging the partners’ initiative, the German development organization GIZ organized a regional workshop in Belgrade, titled “Steps towards the National Building Renovation Strategy”. GIZ projects “DKTI Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Serbia”, “Promotion of Energy Efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and the regional project Open Regional Fund for SEE-Energy Efficiency were the main bearers of the event. Support was also provided by the GIZ “Kosovo Energy Efficiency Project” and “Energy Efficiency Reforms in Ukraine” projects.

Acting on behalf of the German Government, the GIZ has been supporting national authorities of Energy Community (EnC) Contracting Parties in designing policies for energy efficiency and renewable energy sources for several years now. The focus has been throughout on close cooperation with partners and provision of technical advice, and assistance to them.

The workshop in Belgrade brought together 40 representatives of national institutions from seven EnC contracting parties: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, FRY Macedonia, Kosovo* and Ukraine, including national and international experts, and GIZ representatives.

Opening speeches were given by Dr. Stevica Deđanski, State Secretary – Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia and Dr. Stephan Heieck, GIZ DKTI Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Serbia Program Leader.

Deđanski used the opportunity to highlight that the Building Renovation Strategy is one of key documents to be developed with the support of GIZ. He further added “This event is a great and unique opportunity to establish direct contact and cooperation with equivalent institutions in the neighboring countries.”

The aim of the workshop was the presentation of main steps for the design of the National Building Renovation Strategy. Furthermore, the workshop served the presentation of the Bosnia and Herzegovina experience, which has already initiated the Strategy drafting process and triggered a discussion on common challenges, opportunities, but also experiences it has made so far, which can be of great use to SEE countries, including Ukraine.

Conclusions from the workshop

It was agreed that one of the most important preconditions in National Building Renovation Strategy development is a strong commitment of all relevant national stakeholders, primarily the Governments.

Energy poverty was identified as one of the main challenges for implementation of energy efficiency measures in the buildings sector, making the analysis of the building stock, such as single family homes, particularly difficult. This makes a realistic calculation of energy consumption difficult, as people use less energy then they need because they cannot afford more.

The starting point for the development of the Strategy should be the building typology or statistical data, such as results from the population consensus, respectively. However, only Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have developed National Building Typologies and national consensus, in most cases, does not provide relevant information. The methodology for the creation of the building typologies was developed with the support of GIZ Serbian-German development project and as such, it was replicated in some SEE countries.

Renovation of residential and commercial buildings requires a lot of voluntary action as the owners of buildings have to carry out the biggest part of the investment. Communication of the importance of energy efficiency (EE) and the benefits users will gain over the following years is crucial.

Similar workshops and events held so far have been assessed as very important for an exchange of information and lessons learnt.

Building sector – EU and EnC Contracting Parties

The building sector in EU countries is responsible for around 40% of the world energy consumptions and around 35% of CO2 emissions. In the countries of South-East Europe, these numbers are even higher, where the share of final energy consumption for the residential, public or commercial sector might get even up to 50%. Because of the high potential for energy savings in a cost-effective manner, the EU is making the building sector its priority area to meet energy efficiency and climate targets for the upcoming years. Following their examples, Contracting Parties of the Energy Community are also putting the focus on their building stock, searching for the best ways to improve energy efficiency as committed in their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans.

Article 4 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU (EED) on the renovation of buildings requires signing parties to establish a long-term strategy for mobilization of investments for the renovation of the national residential and commercial building stock, both public and private. Contracting Parties of Energy Community are obliged to make the transposition of the EED into their legislation. Development of the National Building Renovation Strategy is part of this process. This strategy would support and reinforce many of the EED and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD) requirements, setting a framework for systematic and effective implementation of EE measures in the buildings sector, which would result in significant energy savings and CO2 emission reduction.