The biggest barrier to energy efficiency in Romania is the very price of energy, which is very low, so people are not stimulated to take efficiency measures, said Zoltan Nagy-Bege, deputy chairman of the National Regulatory Authority for Energy (ANRE). “I have said it, but I repeat it because we have to enter it into the subconsciousness. My opinion is that in Romania, the most important barrier to energy efficiency is the very price of energy, which is very, very small, so that the Romanians are not stimulated to take energy efficiency measures. However cheap energy is, it is more expensive than the cheapest, that is, the one not consumed,” Nagy-Bege said, according to Agerpres.

The ANRE official pointed out that there should be awareness and consumer awareness actions for the period when state regulated prices will disappear, this being just a matter of time. “The alternative to regulated capped prices is a responsible behavior of consumers towards ourselves, our society, our health, our comfort, our standard of living and our environment. Energy efficiency can have beneficial effects in all these areas,” ANRE representative added.

According to him, energy consumption in buildings represents over 40% of total energy consumption in Europe and 45% in Romania. “The buildings sector is responsible for one third of the carbon dioxide emissions, and 75% of the buildings in the European Union are energetically inefficient, and Romania is worse off,” said the ANRE vice president.