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 the Republic of North Macedonia, where 98% of apartments are privately owned and 80% of homeowners living in MFABs are low-income, ComAct aims to refurbish four MFABs to benefit 180 households. By first assessing the needs and financial capabilities of homeowners, ComAct will then be able to provide a useful energy Advice Resource Center, promote financial opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades, and facilitate the involvement of stakeholders across the business and NGO sectors.
Source:
ComAct. (2020) ComAct: The Project. Link: https://comact-project.eu/the-project/