Due to high energy prices and poor energy efficiency of buildings, heating systems, and household appliances, residents of Central and Eastern European countries are some of the most energy-poor people on the continent. There are complex reasons behind this energy poverty, including the mass privatization of multi-family apartment blocks (MFABs) in the 1990s, the removal of the subsidies for utility and energy costs, and the abandonment of socialist-era collective maintenance mechanisms.
ComAct aims to tackle these issues by improving the energy efficiency of existing MFAB, making these improvements affordable. It also aims to create the needed assistance to lift communities out of energy poverty. This program first identifies energy-poor communities, then intervenes across three dimensions: stakeholders and communities, financial, and technical. In Lithuania, 30% of households are unable to keep their homes adequately warm, and 8% struggle to pay utility bills on time. ComAct will set up a resource center for residents, encourage dialogue among stakeholders, coordinate with local financial institutions to find solutions, and encourage the renovation of two MFABs by supporting homeowners associations.
Source:
ComAct. (2020) ComAct: The Project. Link: https://comact-project.eu/the-project/