Energy consumption in housing and institutions represents an environmental problem which has only in recent years entered the agendas of the Baltic States. Consequently, resources have been allocated in the sector-integrated environment activities to promote environmental-friendly energy policies and strengthen consultancy at end-user levels.

Two programme components

The programme aims at increasing the energy efficiency of the housing sector and thereby diminish the CO2 emissions. This is ensured through consultancy and knowledge transfer from Denmark when the countries prepare relevant, new legislation and administrative regulations for the area. As an example, a Danish civil servant has been stationed in Latvia's Ministry of the Environment. Here, he is to assist in de-veloping an overall strategy for implemen-ting energy improvements in dwellings. In another project, Danes and Latvians jointly translate EU standards for insulation and adapt them to Latvian conditions.

To promote energy-efficiency, the program-me also provides assistance to projects at the end-user level. As an example, assistance has been provided to a project in an Estonian municipality which has implemented energy management in all public buildings. The municipalities heating managers have learned that simple routines such as lowering temperatures by night save a good deal of money. The savings are subsequently transferred to individual buildings' maintenance accounts. Another Estonian project provides assistance to a nationwide energy-consultancy service advising Estonians on possible energy improvements in their dwellings.

Additional information

Information on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' sector-integrated environment assistance is available from:

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs International Relations Division
Slotsholmsgade 1
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tel.: +45 33 92 61 00
Fax: +45 33 92 61 04
www.bm.dk

Free consultancy promotes energy-efficient renovations

In Lithuania, the Danish Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs enjoys close cooperation with the World Bank. The World Bank has made available a soft loan to Lithuania with the objective of improving tenants' opportunities of obtaining loans for energy-efficient renovations. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has granted aid to set up consultancy centres in the five big towns: Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Alytus and Panevezys. The centres provide housing associations with free information on energy-efficient renovation and the possibility of obtaining loans for that purpose.

Joint consultancy

The centres offer technological, legal and financial expertise, thus providing information and advice on all aspects of loaning and energy improvement to the users. In addition, the centres conduct comprehensive outreaching information activities, realise campaigns and prepare inserts on energy-efficient renovation to the local newspapers.

Evaluation in year 2000

As of year 2000, the responsibility for the centres will transfer to the Lithuanian Ministry of the Environment, which will in the course of a 3-year transition period also assume the financial responsibility. The World Bank and the Lithuanian government will evaluate the project during the summer of 2000, with a view to deciding whether to continue the soft loan. With Denmark's support, the Lithuanian government will in advance prepare a strategy for the future activities of energy-improvements in dwellings.

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Focus on energy consumption in the Baltic housing sector