Energy inefficiency and the overall low quality of the building stock in Central and Eastern Europe is one of the most alarming issues of the region. The European data on countries affected by energy poverty only confirm that the post-socialist countries are listed among the most affected ones by energy poverty. If you are aware of our REELIH project and what is the reasoning behind our interest in supporting renovation of co-owned multi-apartment buildings, you know that the primary cause of the housing issues in this region is the large number of the old building stock built during the communist era. The current high numbers of privately owned units in these residential buildings are resulting from the privatization wave after the fall of communism in 1990s. This became the main obstacle in finding consent among the owners to improve the quality of their dwellings and stepping out of the closed circle of energy poverty.
The whole problem of energy inefficient buildings stock in this region is manifold, considering all the factors that contribute to the overall high rates of energy poverty. Rising energy prices, low incomes, misfunctioning homeowner associations and lacking financial possibilities to renovate the residential buildings all together contribute to the gravity of the situation.
The energy poverty and the challenges of the socialist-era housing facilities are discussed in a new C4E Forum blog prepared by two representatives from Romanian Center for the Study of Democracy, Babes-Bolyai University, Anca Sinea and Andreea Vornicu-Chira. Learn more about the topic in this article.