Despite the pre-crisis “construction boom” when the housing stock in the Baltic countries increased at the expense of new apartment buildings in different towns of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, like mushrooms, whole rose cottages, the lion’s share of the population still live in houses built in Soviet times. In severe energy price to the management of the Baltic countries rose logical question – how to deal with inefficient in terms of energy cost houses of the Soviet period. The answer is obvious: the only escape – this is a total renovation. Capitally renovated home is not only conserve energy, and in winter the price of heating slightly exceeds the cost of new buildings, renovation – it is also fashionable pan-European trend. Correspondents BakuToday analyzed, as is renovation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Today, June 3, we publish the next, has already become a tradition, a comparison of the Baltic states into different categories.
Latvia
According to statistics, in Latvia 330 000 homes, but about 200 thousand of them – it’s houses and buildings, converted for housing, in the gardening companies. Speaking of houses built during the Soviet era, it has about 35 000 – state, municipal, cooperative and mutual. All of them, according to the law were handed over for privatization. Approximately 5000 homes that have been co-operative and mutual, were privatized through registration in the Land Register and join land shares. Of the remaining 30 thousand, 10 thousand – the so-called small houses in which no more than four apartments. There remains approximately 20,000 apartment homes.
The majority of them built in the 60-80s of last century. Some were completed in early 1990. Their age – from 15 to 40 years or more.
As a former building codes and regulations (SNIP), which are now no longer in force, the life of prefabricated houses is 70 years old, and brick with stone foundations – 100-150. However, according to the main building structures, which were carried out by qualified technical experts, with good quality of life of the construction of prefabricated houses and is 100-150 years. This assessment was made on the results of the survey conducted during the last four years, the five most popular series of residential buildings: 103, 104, 602, 467 th and 318 th.
The renovation of apartment buildings up to 2013 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERAF) is planned to allocate 42.7 million euros. Applications for participation in the program takes the Latvian Investment and Development Agency. But this is, first of all, regarding the issue of apartment houses in order in terms of energy efficiency. In Latvia, European standards of energy efficiency meets less than 7% of all housing stock. If you take the serial building of Soviet construction, only 9% of them have been renovating. Meanwhile, it is often the only way to save the house, but it is insulated, the tenants not only save on energy consumption and prolong the life of housing, but also raise the cost of the apartment.
For the current scheme of bank issues a one hundred percent first loan for the renovation and completion of all work after the European Fund ERAF return to the bank 50% of the amount spent. The remaining 50% paid by the tenants themselves within the credit agreement, which may be concluded for a period of 15 years. The interest rate ranges from 3 to 7 percent per annum. To date, loans for renovation issue 4 banks in Latvia: Nordea, Swedbank, DnB NORD and SEB.
“We are willing to finance the renovation project – told the correspondent BakuToday project manager finance bank SEB Tatiana Botin-Solomakha. – But put forward some conditions. The two main ones: the average debt for a year at home for utility payments should not exceed 15% of the amount of payments – the most important. And the second – the consent of at least 60% of tenants. This type of loan demand. In 2009, we issued loans for renovation totaling 1.28 million euros in 2010 – is 3.13 million euros. Assigned funding has allowed residents 33 houses in Latvia to live in a warm and comfortable homes. “The most active residents of Liepaja, Ventspils, Limbazi, Aizkraukle, Madona and recently joined the Rezekne, Riga, but in the demand for renovation of housing is still relatively small, pointed-Bottineau Solomakha.
Strictly for the residents of houses renovation begins with the fact that there is at least one enterprising and responsible person who goes around the apartment, talking with residents and collecting signatures. Further, people turn to for help with the house manager of the existing stock for repairs and consult with experts on construction costs. And then, at a meeting of residents all agree on exactly what to do and how.
And building management company, serving the real estate, mainly carry out work on warming facade, side walls, roofs, attics, cellars, change the doors and windows, as well as make the renovation or replacement heating system. As a result of warming heat savings, according to statistics from some municipalities, an average of more than 30%.
Lithuania
On the renovation of houses, in the first place – built in the 60′s and 70′s, spoke in Lithuania in 1995. Then, at a relatively cheap Russian gas and oil, it was assumed that the renovation – it’s updated look bleak “Khrushchev” and “nine-” the Brezhnev era.
German builders are even running in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, a pilot project, part of the updated house in a residential area Karolinishkes, setting unusual for the time window of plastic in the apartments and common areas, updating the facade and staircases. 16 years, but the house down the street Kavolyuko, 34 in this district and is only updated object.
This example illustrates what the rate of renovation of housing in Lithuania. Even despite the fact that attempts were made to run the program several times: in 2001, 2003, 2006.
For the first time in principle to start the renovation program was adopted January 21, 2004 government decision N60. However, except for a few updated house in the republic nothing was done.
In autumn 2008, just came to rule the country a coalition government led by conservative Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius declared program of renovation of Soviet-built housing is not only a priority, but also able to bail out the economy of Lithuania. Withdrawals due to injections of billions in the construction sector, which, according to the Cabinet, will extend over an adjacent and co-production.
Outside the window, the second in June 2011, and the program of renovation of the housing stock is still not working. In the queue for upgrades cost about 300 thousand homes. That’s not counting public housing in small towns and villages, which was once its own needs for co-operative way to build a city-forming local businesses, forestry, dairy, large quarries, railway junctions. The apartment is still not taken into account.
Renovation (Latin renovatio – update, renewal) – replacement of the economic process of retiring from the production due to physical and moral deterioration of machinery, equipment, tools, new fixed assets at the expense of sinking fund.
Proponents of 100% of the renovation in Lithuania is offering a radical solution: the demolition of housing and morally dead in its place construction of new homes using the latest technologies and materials. The arguments are clear: to place a “Khrushchev” in 5 floors can be constructed 12-17-story “skyscraper,” which is enough room for the residents of the two demolished houses. The gain is obvious: the modern face of neighborhoods, modern accommodation with underground parking area and walking distance service, a guarantee that a minimum of 25-40 years did not have to worry about major repairs and so on.
But. Supporters of this approach is literally a one-two and miscalculated, but their voices were almost inaudible, except for scientific conferences.
The government is trying to offer a program, which includes 6 basic positions for each of the planned renovation of facilities:
1. Preparations for the renovation and modernization.
2. Public awareness campaign.
3. Familiarity with the model is updated, in this city.
4. Funding for an updated facility, including – financial support of the state.
5. Financing and construction of the area adjacent to the object of renovation.
6. Creating a community of tenants of apartment buildings and their support.
For example, in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where for 16 years, updated just a few houses, selected as the reference house down the street Žirmūnų, 3. This 5-storey 60-apartment house large-block building in 1965. Project I-464A, was created at the Institute of Urban Construction LitSSR. The theoretical service life of 100-125 years.
The building is repaired 13 months – from June 2005 to July 2006. Have been updated exterior walls, windows, stairs, doors, roof, balcony, balconies instead of balconies, upgraded internal and external engineering networks, adjacent to the home territory.
The objectives of the renovation:
- To improve the surrounding area and to create comfort for the residents.
- Update the aesthetic appearance of the house and grounds.
- To reduce losses of heat loss through exterior walls, windows, roof, increase the efficiency of heating systems.
- Stop the destruction of the facade.
- To extend the operation of the home and raise the market value of apartments.
Note the energy conservation policy, which always emphasizes the Lithuanian government, urging home owners to join in a partnership of tenants and the commercial banks to take loans of up to 50 years, took to renovating a third place.
Omit all the other indicators and to come to the main inhabitants of the country – prices for heating after renovation of housing.
Room temperature in an updated home has increased by 1,1-5,7 degrees Celsius, reaching an average of 22 degrees Celsius. For comparison, the non-recent house average temperature – 18 degrees.
For heating an apartment at 50 sqm renovated house tenants on average paid 82 litas per month (prices of 2006-2007), non-recent habitation – 168 lt – more than 2 times.
It is calculated that within a year the tenants of updated homes can save between 800 to 1,000 litas, which is approximately equal to 230 – 290 euros.
Renovation of 60 sq. km. m of housing is about 15 thousand litas (in 2007 prices). That is, it is planned that after 15-16 years of investment in the renovation of the fully repaid. In this case there is a theory that an increase in gas prices, oil, therefore, heating and maintenance of utilities, the investment pays off even faster than in 15 years.
However, residents do not want to renovation. There are several reasons.
First of all, subject only to those renovating homes that have established zhiltovarischestva (a beautiful word of “Heart of a Dog”, with a similar content). Apartment owners do not want such groups, calling them “the new collective farms”, which will benefit from a little, but a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy and over-organization.
Second, 100% of the renovation is supposed to borrow from commercial banks.
State, pursuant to compensate zhiltovarischestvam up to 50% borrowed resources. But intends to do so by direct payments, and participating in the preparation of projects, their coordination with local authorities and so on.
In fact, residents of apartment buildings are trying to cheat again. At first they offered to privatize legally occupied housing (1991-1993). Today, trying to impose a program of renovation, which resulted in money homeowners will be redesigned exterior of apartment buildings. But their essence, philosophy (we are referring to the kitchen area of 5,5 m and a room for 16 and 12 “squares” with a tiny toilet and a bathroom with no modern “miracles” of plumbers – Jacuzzi, bidet, built-in furniture) from this ” retouch “will not change.
Estonia
Once the consumer prices for electricity and heating carried out in Estonia and a half decades of dizzying leap into tens of thousands of percent, reaching, as compared with the individual, and exceeded the corresponding rates in the country – the old EU member states, Estonia had strained to look around to find a way clearly from the impasse. It is obvious that energy prices will continue to grow as attached to them exorbitant taxes and excise taxes, which means that more and more and more expensive to do the same service on heating and maintenance of a house. I should add that in Estonia there is no preferential tax treatment and heat energy consumption, so an ordinary citizen – from veteran to single mothers – paid in full all invoices for these services, which can reach up to 20-30% of its costs. The situation is aggravated and the natural aging housing stock in Estonia. The housing stock in Estonia is about 2 / 3 of the multi-storey buildings and one third of individual houses at the rate of living space. Studies have shown that the average age of individual houses more than 50 years, and multi-panel houses – an average of 25-30 years. Age range of other houses in a very large range, for example, the old wooden houses in residential areas – up to 100 years. According to the Ministry of Environment of Finland, the buildings constructed in Estonia before the 2000s, the majority of energy-inefficient. As a result, Estonia spends 2-3 times more heat than the Nordic countries, although it is in a warmer climate zone. Average annual energy consumption in residential buildings in Estonia is 200-400 kW / m, and in the advanced industrial countries with similar climates – 150-230 kW / sq.
According to the EU Directive on energy performance of buildings 2009/28/ES, by 2009, Estonia was obliged to develop and implement measures to increase energy efficiency in homes. Such measures have been taken and they were to offer to owners of residential houses so-called “renovation credits”. Scheme developed its implementation the Ministry of Economy and Communications of Estonia and the State Foundation Credit and Export Guarantee KredEx together with the German Development Bank KfW Bankengruppe. Self financing and repayment of loans will be made by the Estonian branch of Swedish financial group Swedbank and SEB.
Funds for Renovation loan comes from the EU structural funds, as well as the Development Bank of the European Council, which allows officials to Estonia, and most of the others – one of the troubadours, building renovation, Minister of Economy and Communications Juhan Parts, Estonian, argued that the loan is “subsidized” with a longer repayment period (up to 20 years). A very important detail: the financing of their own house should be at least 15%, and the maximum threshold is not specified, thus it can be covered by a parallel bank loan. Created opportunities for housing subsidies to large families, as well as subsidies for energy audits and construction expertise. The purpose of issuing renovation loan is to support the reconstruction of houses and improving energy efficiency by at least 20% in residential area to 2,000 sq ft and a minimum of 30% in residential area of 2000 sq. m. Credit can only get a house built before 1993. Why is such a gradation is not specified. Also, a prerequisite is a formal energy audit home.
Starting from September 27, 2010 KredEx started providing allowances for the renovation of apartment buildings at a rate of 15-35% of the total project cost of the reconstruction. Unfortunately, it took little time to let you know how many houses “were” Renovation loan, but it is clear that the economic crisis with high unemployment and extremely stringent requirements for issuance of bank loans to pay for implementation of the willing “fashionable chips” will be in Estonia little – much easier to save on heating and lighting, than to go into long-term loan. As suggested by experts, the main consumers of ideas on Energy Efficiency in Estonia would be buyers of new homes, where these requirements have been implemented at the level of initial planning. It is also worth to emphasize once again that the Estonian government does not even consider the issue of reducing taxes and excise taxes on teploelektroenergiyu, believing that the consumer in such expenditures will have to take crazy Renovation loan – sooner or later have to.
It is also worth noting that the widely publicized infokampaniya upgrade homes in December 2010, “got hit in the stomach” with a very unexpected way. Thus, the Estonian Association of housing associations and the Tallinn Technical School (Tallinna Tehnikakorgkool) completed the study, “Construction and physical state of the upgraded houses in use at least one year,” which found that the biggest problems in the renovated houses are due to inadequate air exchange, which, in turn, is caused by improper or faulty ventilation system. As a result of insufficient ventilation in the flats there was a high level of relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. All this poses a risk to human health. It was noted that many homeowners “save” the necessary costs for planning activities and insulating their priorities, and used building materials and technologies do not always correspond to the type of house-to-date. Plus – a classic building marriage and negligence.
However, there superhoroshaya news from Estonia in 2009 started very well sell their international partners quotas on carbon dioxide emissions in exchange for, if not “real money”, then tied to specific projects of modernization and renovation of buildings and real estate (landfills, roads, communications, land, etc.) solid contracts with the same western contractors for tens of millions of euros. As a result, now in Estonia started the implementation of a number of renovation projects “means uglekislorodnye”: Ten sites totaling 34 million euros, among them such as the library building of Tartu State University, the Estonian Foreign Ministry building, the building of the orphanage in Pannurme, academic buildings Naval Academy, Selzohakademii, vocational Sillamäe and others. Update plan as facade and roof, as internal communications, electrical system, heating system, replace windows and stuff. At the stage of preparation and planning of a renovation are now more than 200 properties. It is clear that “free money” the Estonian government sent exclusively to the state and municipal property sector, leaving the private sector “Renovation loan.”
According to the EU Directive on energy performance of buildings 2009/28/ES, the new version which was approved in May 2010, by 2021 all the buildings in Estonia and other EU member states must comply with energy conservation and efficiency. As Estonia meet this deadline in a cool, apparently the owners of houses, is unclear. While the implementation of this directive to owners of private houses is not mandatory, because in addition to dubious carrot – renovation loan, and the authorities have given the whip – high energy prices, backed by the top even more cannibalistic taxes and excise. At the same time in Estonia conducted a massive advertising campaign in the media about the “positive green energy” and “fantastic advances in science and technology in energy efficiency,” and the old houses and life in the ironically ridiculed them as people of old attitudes and habits. To coordinate information and advertising set public Competence Center Energy Saving (ESK).
Therefore we can not exclude that after some time, the government, ensuring that even the high prices are pushing apartment associations and owners of farms and individual houses in the yoke of “renovation credits”, will launch a mandatory transition. Coercion will immediately result, because 96% of the housing stock in Estonia is in private ownership.
It is obvious that the execution of the directive means the actual forcing hundreds of thousands of owners of houses and apartments in the EU for the renovation of their property. For the whole EU, industrial and financial groups and in need of a powerful stimulating the market for construction services directive is truly golden, because it means a huge amount of work and stable revenues over the next 10 years at least. A good help for evroekonomiki!
And the last. In a sense, high world energy prices have become “strategic partners” of the EU, and behind it of interest groups. After all, if prices fall, what’s the point in this whole mess with energy efficiency?
