The National Forum on Energy Efficient Construction: Investments, Challenges and Development, held on 27 May in Chișinău, highlighted the need for the accelerated capitalization of investments and strengthening the capacity of the construction sector to transform available financial resources into concrete large-scale energy renovation projects.

The event was organized by the National Center for Sustainable Energy in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, UNDP Moldova, and with the financial support of the Government of Denmark.

Given that more than half of the final energy consumption at national level comes from the building sector, energy efficiency has a direct impact on the economy, competitiveness, and sustainability. At the same time, programmes such as the Residential Energy Efficiency Fund of Moldova, together with investments in public buildings, create a significant volume of financial resources that require increased absorption capacity and efficient implementation in the construction market.

The Forum highlighted reform directions and investments in the sector, including the strategic role of government policies in supporting the energy-efficient construction market.

“Construction and building efficiency, when carried out properly, reduce environmental impact and increase the comfort of residents. It is important for authorities to provide clarity and predictability. I confirm the Parliament's willingness to support this sector, discuss the challenges it faces, and identify solutions. New constructions must comply with quality standards and contribute to reducing energy consumption,” said Victoria Belous, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance.

Vladimir Bolea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR), emphasized the need to strengthen the sector’s capacity to implement complex projects and respond to the growing demand generated by national programmes.

“Legislation must keep pace with current realities. Climate change is already making its presence felt in our daily lives, while construction technologies and materials are evolving at an accelerated pace. We need a flexible and modern regulatory framework that allows rapid adaptation to new requirements and to the way we build today. MIDR remains open to continuous dialogue with both representatives of the construction sector and those in the field of energy efficiency. When innovative solutions emerge that are not yet sufficiently regulated, I encourage the business community to come forward with clear and well-argued proposals so that together we can develop an updated legislative framework adapted to market needs and sustainable development objectives,” said Vladimir Bolea.

Discussions also addressed the expansion of financing mechanisms and the adaptation of the market to European standards, as investments in energy efficiency are becoming increasingly structured through dedicated instruments, including grants and co-financing mechanisms for homeowners’ associations and public buildings.

Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy, emphasized that building energy efficiency can generate a major economic impact: “Investments in building energy efficiency have a direct economic and social impact on citizens. We are talking about lower energy bills, warmer homes, and greater comfort for people. The results of programmes implemented so far show that building energy efficiency is one of the best solutions for reducing consumption and strengthening the country’s energy resilience. Going forward, we aim to further develop and expand these initiatives so that more families in Moldova can enjoy better living conditions.”

International experiences were presented as relevant benchmarks for the development of the sector, including regarding private sector involvement and the efficient use of financial mechanisms in energy renovation projects. “Today, we are entering a new stage of energy efficiency: one that moves beyond policy ambition and strategic intent toward large-scale implementation, operational programmes, concrete investments, and measurable results. However, investments alone are not sufficient. Equally important is the capacity of the private sector to respond effectively to the growing demand for energy-efficient construction and renovation. This is why we are prioritising accelerated professionalization. This means improved technical skills, quality standards, modern technologies,” said Seher Ariner, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

Ion Muntean, Director of the National Center for Sustainable Energy (NCSE) spoke about the financial solutions for the energy renovation of apartment buildings developed through the Residential Energy Efficiency Fund of Moldova, managed by NCSE.

“Energy efficiency is no longer only a public policy objective, but a strategic investment in energy security, economic competitiveness, and citizens’ quality of life. In recent years, we have built sustainable financing mechanisms and launched programmes that are already producing concrete results. At the same time, this journey has clearly shown us where market vulnerabilities exist. Today’s Forum is an open invitation to dialogue and cooperation, in order to jointly identify solutions that will accelerate the development of a strong, high-quality, and energy-efficient construction sector in the Republic of Moldova,” said Ion Muntean.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Fund of Moldova foresees a budget of more than MDL 1.4 billion until the end of 2027 and includes the renovation of a heated area of at least 507 thousand square meters of housing over the next three years, of which 75% are residential buildings. Financing instruments include grants covering 70% of eligible investment costs for condominium homeowners’ associations, with a co-financing contribution of only 30%. Energy-vulnerable apartment and individual house owners will benefit from allowances of up to 90% of the contribution amount, paid from the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund.

UNDP and Denmark will support the preparation of energy audits for 10 business incubators and 25 apartment buildings. These will serve as the basis for investments aimed at reducing energy consumption and utility costs. Another 43 audits for apartment buildings and medical institutions have been carried out with financing provided by the European Union and Italy.

At the same time, UNDP, through funding provided by the EU, Italy, and GEF, installed photovoltaic panels at 9 district hospitals.

The Forum brought together more than 150 representatives of the construction sector, financial institutions, public authorities, and international organizations, providing a platform for dialogue on the implementation of policies and investments in energy efficiency, including in the context of the Sectoral Long-Term Strategy for the Renovation of the Buildings 2025-2050, developed with the support of UNDP, the Energy Community Secretariat, the EU, and Denmark.