As part of the "First Movers" project, the first trainings were started with the administrators of Tenant Associations from the 7 cities in the country, on improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

Local experts, as well as experts from Ukraine, spoke to the participants about:

• the possibilities of obtaining financing and managing investments in energy efficiency;
• the benefits of energy efficiency projects for tenant associations and the role of condominiums in the housing and communal services market;
• legal aspects of EE projects;
• importance for cooperation with the Fund for energy efficiency in the residential sector, scheduled to be launched in 2023;
• financial aspects of EE projects;
• the technical documentation regarding the development of the energy audit.

At the training event, the state secretary for energy, Constantin Borosan, emphasized that the residential sector is the largest energy consumer. "Increasing the energy efficiency of the residential sector is part of the strategic objectives of the Government, and the launch and operationalization of the Fund for energy efficiency in the residential sector is one of the main instruments that will allow us to achieve this objective. Thus, the start of the "Early Movers" (Primele Rândunele”) program represents the first step in familiarizing tenants' associations with the potential of energy efficiency and how it can be exploited. We sincerely thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the support given in order to achieve this goal", said Constantin Borosan.

The representatives of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova stated: "We are glad that the home owner associations in Moldova have reacted so positively and want to take initiative and responsibility for the efficiency of energy consumption in their buildings. These projects are theirs: if they are ready to invest time and money, the fund will invest even more and they will get better homes and save energy and money. The Netherlands are very proud to contribute to the set-up and development of this Fund"

The EU representative, Krzysztof Gierulski, stated that: ” The EU strongly supports Moldova’s efforts to strengthen its energy security. Surely, the reforms to enhance energy efficiency in residential sector are an essential part of the solution. The authorities of Moldova and the European Commission have agreed to develop together a dedicated Fund to support energy efficiency of residential buildings. We hope that other international donors will join us in the near future for this important initiative. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is already helping with technical assistance to kick-off the programme of early-movers, first set of pilot renovation projects in multi-apartment buildings in Moldova, which will help us fine-tune the design of the full-scale programme for the upcoming Fund. We will start with assistance to the thermal renovations of multi-apartment buildings with an intention to extend further in the future to single-family buildings. As the condominiums and home-owners are meant to be in the heart of this reform, apart from creating favourable conditions for co-financing investments in energy efficiency, it will be important to further increase awareness among the residents in Moldova about opportunities to save energy and reduce cost of living while increasing comfort of life by doing cost-efficient renovations of their buildings.”

Yuliia Holovatiuk-Ungureanu, expert in energy efficiency from Ukraine, shared with the participants several practical examples of the implementation of such a project in Ukraine, as well as the main benefits and successful results obtained from the thermal improvement of buildings in the neighboring country.

In addition to training, at the next stage, participants will benefit from a free energy audit of the building (up to 10 projects), will receive financial support and consultancy in the preparation of design budgets and implementation of energy efficiency measures (1-3 projects) , depending on the project budget given for the elaboration of budget documentation. The selection of projects will also take place on the basis of the decisions taken during the general meetings of the owners of residential buildings, which attest the willingness of the tenants to implement and finance energy efficiency measures.

"Today we started the capacity building program for tenant associations across the country, which will allow them to obtain financing and manage building energy efficiency projects. The success of the soon-to-be-created Energy Efficiency Fund is also based on the ability of tenant associations to manage energy efficiency projects. We will work in this direction for at least the next 2 years." said Adrian Lupusor, Executive Director, Expert-Grup. 

The implementation of energy efficiency measures will bring the following benefits for tenants:

• increasing the energy efficiency of the building;
• reduction of energy consumption from 20 to 50%;
•  reduction of bills for communal services (primarily for heating and hot water, including electricity consumption);
• improving the condition of the house and more comfortable living conditions (without heating or overheating);
• increasing the market value of the property;
• reduction of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere;
• own contribution to the energy independence of the country.

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The  "First Movers"   („Primele Rândunele") project is implemented by the Independent Think-Tank Expert-Grup in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova, as part of technical assistance for improving energy efficiency and security in the Republic of Moldova, for the period 2022-2024.