219 households have improved their energy efficiency as a result of the assistance provided through the “Green Home” developed with the support of the EU and UNDP

219 energy-vulnerable households, of which 74 foster care homes, benefited from measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings within the “Green Home” pilot initiative, carried out with the financial support of the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“Supporting and encouraging the use of renewable energy solutions in energy-vulnerable households is crucial for achieving an inclusive transition to a sustainable future. Ensuring access to clean, affordable energy not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also alleviates energy poverty, improves health, and enhances the quality of life for the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Solomon Ioannou, Programme Officer within the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

74 households out of the 219 selected in the “Green Home” programme are foster care homes. Initially, energy audits were carried out and, based on the recommendations, energy efficiency improvement measures with the greatest impact on each individual homes were decided. As a result, 11 solar collectors, 22 biomass boilers, 22 photovoltaic panels were installed and the thermal insulation of 35 houses was carried out – a total of 90 interventions, in some households multiple energy efficiency measures were combined.

Photovoltaic panels were installed on another 145 households. These beneficiaries were selected from the “Energy Vulnerability” information system based on several criteria, such as owning the house they live in, recording an average monthly energy consumption of 400-600 kWh and having a very high degree of energy vulnerability. Priority was given to families with many children. The beneficiaries were selected with the support of the National Center for Sustainable Energy and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

One of the beneficiary families is that of Tatiana and Igor Burlacu from the village of Pervomaiscoe, Hîncești. The couple have six children in foster care. In August 2023, the photovoltaic panels were installed and for the first two months they paid nothing for the electricity consumed. During the cold period of the year, less solar energy is produced, but it still covers over 80% of household consumption.

“For us, the photovoltaic system installed is a true gift, we didn’t spend a penny, but we benefit. We have whole months in which we don’t pay anything for electricity. I didn’t know that such a thing existed, maybe it is. Savings help a lot, we can offer the children much more than before, imagine if three thousand lei from the family budget were spent monthly on electricity. We are very grateful,” says Igor Burlacu.

In the case of Elena Rusu from the village of Glinjeni, Fălești district, who also has six children in her family-type house, the results of the energy audit recommended the thermal insulation of the house and the installation of a biomass boiler. After the first winter since the house is energy efficient, Elena is very satisfied.

“We used to make the fire in three stoves and spent a lot of wood and coal, but now we save half and it’s warmer. We are very happy – it is cleaner in the house, we save time, it is more comfortable and the house is more beautiful. With the money saved from the thermal insulation of the house and the installation of the boiler, we want to build the second floor, to increase the space for the children,” says Elena Rusu.

“Green Home” is a pilot initiative carried out within the EU-UNDP programme “Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova” with a budget of over one and a half million U.S. dollars. “Green Home” promotes energy saving practices and technologies and energy efficiency, especially in energy-vulnerable households. The interventions carried out bring benefits such as energy savings, reducing the costs of bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

The “Green Home” programme is to be taken over by the National Center for Sustainable Energy and expanded nationally.

For more than 20 years, the UNDP-EU partnership has improved people’s lives, made their voices heard and promoted local environmental and climate solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.