Yambol

Energy efficiency is one of the priorities in the Development Plan at a community level but the City has no quantitative goals for energy efficiency or CO2 reduction.
Adaptation to EU regulations & quality levels requires great efforts & flexibility of population & administration.
A complicating aspect for renovation are shared premises not part of individual owned apartments but essential parts of the house (roof, common entrances...).
15% of apartments in residential buildings are uninhabited since many leave because of lack of financial resources to maintain dwellings.
Only the Spatial Planning & Construction Department directly involved in implementing energy efficiency measures & the Strategy & projects Department are involved in energy efficiency activities. The rest of the administration is not properly adapted for an integrative way of working.
Equipment & facilities are getting old (35-40 years in operation).
Aspect of owners/occupants is seen as a big obstacle for improving house quality.
No tradition of monitoring to manage processes & strategies. There is only a monitoring system for municipal properties.
There is no system to cover private residential buildings owned by many individuals.
The data could be provided by energy Cies but it is not done.
There is NO targeted communication to raise awareness of inhabitants about need & benefits of proper housing renovation.

Energy policy and legislation

Yambol has an Energy efficiency programme based on the Plan made by the national Energy Efficiency Agency and is preparing an update with specific parameters for the implementation of indicative targets for energy-saving by 2016.
City is member of Municipal Energy Efficiency Eco Energy Network
In compliance with Building Ordinance on energy efficiency housing, all buildings built after 1999 in municipality should have energy efficiency certificates. Even if builders have been given time to fulfil requirements, effect is questionable.
If house owner has implemented measures for energy efficiency, he can be freed from paying 'property tax' for max. of 7 years, depending on the level of energy efficiency. This instrument is not very effective for dwellings, property tax being often symbolic.
Some banks grant low interest loans for implementing energy efficiency measures. But these interests of 7% are still high.

Actions on energy matters

Existing actions

Since 2001, City has been pursuing a policy regarding replacement of solid fuels & diesel with natural gas. Present gas distribution system is 101km long & connects 1733 individual consumers, 26 industrial, 150 public & administration buildings. Further expansion is planned. It is the 1^st city in the country to use natural gas for domestic purposes.
In 2010, City will be implementing integrated energy efficiency measures in children's complexes providing gas connection supported by gas company and renewal of boilers. Investments will be pre-financed & paid afterwards by saved energy costs.
Under UNDP 'Renovated Home' programme a pilot project has started in spring 2010. Its aim is to subsidise for 20% insulation & other energy improvements and up to 100% the renovation of common parts (roof, corridors...).
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Potential actions

Creation of an information bureau on energy efficiency
Raising population awareness about benefits of energy efficiency measures in households.
Yambol has possibilities for the development of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, region being the sunniest in the country. City has a project to attract investors: the 'Photovoltaic Electrical Plant' project, a 5 MW power plant with a capacity up to 10 MW.
There should be a targeted policy to attract specific Cies that fit City's EE goals (solar equipment Cies, energy service Cies...).