Countries in the Western Balkans have high energy demand and low energy performance due to the aging building stock, decades of poor maintenance, legal-regulatory barriers, a lack of clear ownership structures and responsibilities, and poor management of residential buildings. The Slovak Republic has made significant progress in refurbishing their apartment buildings for energy efficiency, and if the forerunner in the region’s energy efficiency.
The success of the Slovak Republic is attributed to a few different factors. First, their Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are self-regulated and allow an ease in decision making, meaning there is less bureaucracy, oversight, and control at the national level, which had proved too complex and ineffective. The Slovak Republic also had the combination of a solid legal framework, institutional support, and availability of financing options that led to a renovation boom between 2000 and 2010. The combination of renovation-friendly legal and financial systems, along with self-regulating HOAs, allowed for energy efficient renovations to be made quickly and effectively, leading to benefits for residents and the environment.
Source:
USAID. (2020) Gap Analysis of the Housing Sector in Western Balkan Counties: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia vs. Slovak Republic.
Link: https://getwarmhomes.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/RTI-GAP.pdf