If previously the inability of residents to agree hindered building insulation, now the number of those wanting insulation has significantly increased, but there is no longer enough support from the state and the European Union, public media report.
According to various sources, the volume of insulated buildings is still low - only 4-7% of those that should be insulated. The idea is increasingly voiced that at least part of the population should fulfill such desires with their own funds or with less support.
In one of the recently insulated houses in Riga, it was too cold, so the residents decided that the renovation of the house, including insulation, could not be postponed. Now, heating bills have decreased by more than half.
"We didn’t think it would be so warm after this. The humidity has increased a bit. That’s the only downside," said resident Esenia of the insulated house.
"Heating costs are low. I have lived in other places, I can compare heating prices, and it’s much better here, even considering that this year is a real winter," added resident Arina.
In Latvia, there are about 40,000 multi-apartment buildings, most of which, 26,000, should be insulated.
The Ministry of Economics has calculated that currently about 7% of buildings are insulated, while in the calculations of the State Audit Office, the share of insulated buildings is even lower. In recent years, residents have gained the courage to carry out insulation, but, figuratively speaking, they are stuck in the neck of the bottle, as there are more people wanting support for insulation than there are opportunities to receive it.
"Unfortunately, many apartment owners are now, so to speak, left behind, because funding for support specifically for construction has ended," explained energy efficiency expert Arnis Lelitis from the Riga Energy Agency.
This observation was also made at "Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks". Under the previous "Altum" program, 60 houses from RNP applied for support. "This is more than in the entire history of 'Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks'," admitted RNP board member Mārtiņš Paur. The industry would like the opportunity to apply for support for building insulation to be continuous, noted RNP. The Ministry of Economics acknowledged that there is not enough money for everyone.
