BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are rolling up their sleeves to boost energy-efficiency upgrades in public buildings across Bosnia and Herzegovina, launching a fresh financing package for Tuzla Canton, Trend reports, citing EBRD's latest reports.
The capital infusion, comprising an 8 million euros loan from
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a 2
million euros investment grant sourced from the European Union via
the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), is earmarked for
the retrofitting and optimization of energy performance across a
portfolio of up to 173 edifices within the nation’s most populous
canton.
The initiative encompasses the deployment of energy optimization
strategies and refurbishment protocols across a diverse portfolio
of public infrastructures, comprising educational institutions,
healthcare facilities, governmental edifices, and recreational
complexes. The project scope encompasses the implementation of
thermal envelope enhancements for vertical and horizontal surfaces,
alongside the retrofitting of fenestration systems and the
optimization of thermal energy generation modalities, in
conjunction with the integration of advanced luminance
solutions.
Thanks to the project, the energy and maintenance costs of these buildings will be lowered, leading to significant energy savings. By reducing demand for fossil fuels as an energy source and replacing heavily polluting sources (such as coal) where possible with more sustainable energy sources (such as biomass), the project will also lead to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
With this investment, Tuzla Canton joins EBRD Green Cities – a flagship programme that is the Bank’s main tool for supporting cities and regions in transitioning to a green, low-carbon and resilient future through targeted investments, policy actions and capacity building. As part of its participation, with EBRD support, Tuzla will develop and implement a green city action plan (GCAP), setting out its priority environmental and climate challenges and identifying the investments and policy actions required to address them. The EBRD expects to assist in the fulfilment of identified priorities as well.
“Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is one of our priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country where buildings are major consumers of energy. These projects not only help improve environmental standards, but also support the local economy by creating jobs and opportunities in the construction sector. I am delighted that Tuzla Canton has joined our flagship EBRD Green Cities programme. Welcome to the family!” said Elena Gordeeva, Director of the EBRD’s Infra Europe department.
The EBRD and the EU are supporting the Western Balkans in improving energy efficiency in both residential and public buildings with dedicated loans and investment grants channelled through the REEP. To date, the programme has financed energy-efficiency measures in 34,000 households and 540 public buildings across the region. Launched in 2013 in cooperation with the EBRD and German development bank KfW, the programme is the EU’s key instrument for green investment in the region.
