The Green Home program, re-launched

The so-called Green Home program, announced by the Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forestry, has been resumed after a 5-year break. Its purpose is to improve air, water and soil quality by curbing pollution generated by wood burning and fossil fuel used to produce thermal energy for heating. Another goal of the program is to stimulate the use of systems running on renewable, non-polluting energy.

The Green Home Program, re-launched under a new concept, has been extended this year with Green Home Plus and Green Home Classic and has a budget of 150 million lei. According to authorities, natural persons, lodgers’ associations, public institutions, schools, universities and hospitals can access these funds. About 15,500 natural persons are expected to benefit the program. Green Home Classic finances investment in insulating materials such as hemp, wool and basalt. Under the Green Home Plus program, 45 million lei have been granted to cover the cost of eco materials, green roofs and power systems.

Moreover, about 44 million lei will go to the people that signed contracts in 2011 under the previous Green Home program, so that they can complete construction works. One of the Green Home programs initiated in 2011 financed heating systems that used renewable energy and also the replacement or upgrading of the classic heating systems for both natural and legal persons. Besides reducing pollution, the project has several other advantages.

The Environment Minister, Cristina Pasca Palmer, has also promised smaller energy bills and the stimulation of businesses in the field of green building materials. “This entire market has only just started developing and I would like the measures that we take to stimulate businesses in this sector. Boosting the consumption of green building materials will create a competitive market and hopefully new jobs,” Cristina Pasca Palmer said.