A panel discussion on energy efficiency was held in the Assembly Hall of the City Administration in Smederevo as part of the campaign “Lower Bills, More Comfort, Cleaner Air”, which the Ministry of Mining and Energy is implementing with the support of the United States Agency for International Development through the “Better Energy” project, with the assistance of the World Bank and Banka Poštanska štedionica.
The meeting was an opportunity for the citizens of Smederevo to find out about the procedure for applying for subsidies awarded by the state, the benefits of greater energy efficiency, and the concessions available for electricity, gas and heating.
The Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, took part in the panel discussion during her visit to Smederevo yesterday.
“By replacing windows and doors, citizens can save 20 per cent of the energy needed for heating, and a further 30 per cent by installing thermal insulation on external walls.
Replacing boilers, fireplaces or stoves with more energy-efficient biomass boilers saves around 30 per cent of primary energy, while installing solar panels can cover part of the energy needs from one’s own production,” said the Minister, stressing that 20,000 households have undergone energy renovation so far and that, in cooperation with the World Bank, USD 50 million has been secured for the renovation of around 50,000 households over the next few years.
Through a Government of Serbia programme, the Ministry of Mining and Energy awards subsidies for energy efficiency measures of up to 50 per cent for implementing a maximum of two individual measures (e.g. replacing windows and installing a gas boiler), or up to 65 per cent for implementing a package of measures (e.g. replacing windows and doors, roof insulation, a biomass boiler and solar panels).
