A home-grown innovation developed and tested with support from the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme implemented by UNDP could significantly reduce the burden of bills.
Sunshine in every home: a solar collector becomes number 1 ally for lower bills
February 4, 2025

Vladimir Ursu of the Renaștere Rurală (Rural Renaissance) Public Association is passionate about innovation. Thus, he has developed a new heating system. It collects light and heat from the sun and converts it into a heating agent.
"This collector consists of hermetically sealed vacuum glass tubes that were primarily used to heat domestic hot water, and we've modified them to heat the air. The air is propelled through these evacuated tubes, air that we take out of the room, heat them up and put back into the room. On sunny winter days this is possible".
The solar collector significantly improves energy efficiency and is recommended for heating homes, public buildings, and industrial facilities. It helps reduce energy costs and promotes the use of green energy. Although the initial installation cost is approximately MDL 24,000, the daily electricity consumption is only MDL 2.
"We have a similar installation in Bălți. Our tests showed that in December, the owner of the house paid MDL 6,000 for gas heating with a central heating plant and in January, which was quite sunny last year, they paid only MDL 2,000."
While the solar collector is efficient during the daytime, an additional heat source is required during the night period. Vitalie Boico is one of the beneficiaries of the solar collector. Although he was skeptical at first, he agreed to have his house turned into an experimental field.
Vitalie has been trying for several years to cut down on maintenance costs and bills and to implement several solutions that can help make his home more energy efficient.
"You have to be innovative and look at what's new on the market now. And now I'm very pleased that it really works. I can say that all the radiators are now off. Sometimes, if we have good sunshine the temperature rises to 23-24 degrees and everything is turned off", says Vitalie Boico, a resident.
A similar installation was also connected in Rîbnița. The construction and testing of the two solar collectors were made possible with the support of the EU Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.
In the cold season, the solar collector generates hot air, which can be used as a thermal agent for space heating during the day. In summer, the hot air produced can be used to dry fruits and vegetables, providing valuable opportunities for local entrepreneurship development.
By using the solar collector, public institutions and businesses can become best-practice examples in transitioning to renewable energy sources, reducing heating costs and dependence on natural gas for heating.
In 2024, the Rural Renaissance Public Association received a grant of EUR 15 thousand through the sectoral environmental platform supported by the EU under the Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP.