29.04.2019.
Experts from the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund participated in the traditional meeting of facility managers, this year held on Hvar, gathering more than 200 participants. One of the currently most important topics in facility management – energy renovation of multi-apartment buildings – was also discussed.
“Seeing that out of 584 energy renovation contracts almost half have been successfully completed, I am convinced that we can all be pleased,” said director of the Fund, Dubravko Ponoš, in his welcome speech, thanking facility managers for their cooperation. “It is a pleasure to see how shabby exteriors become fresh façades, and to hear from co-owners how happy they are with their “new” buildings. It is especially satisfactory to add up energy savings when you submit to us detailed consumption analyses for similar buildings. I believe this will be the best motivation to continue the programme and keep the citizens’ interest high,” concluded Ponoš. He also pointed out that the Fund had a double role in the programme, and he was convinced that very good cooperation of the Fund and facility managers contributed not only to high numbers of eligible projects, but also to the projects completed in a quality manner.
Some of the topics discussed during the event included the initiative for installing lifts, personal data protection, and other topics important for facility management, while one of the panels dealt with all questions facility managers had regarding EU financing of the projects. Participants in the panel included head of Intermediate Body level 2, Maja Rajčić, and other representatives of the Fund: Jelena Bilandžija, Martina Hunski, Darijan Levak, Milovan Zrakić and Mladen Ilijević, who clarified any uncertainties regarding the way to successfully bring to an end energy renovation of buildings financed from EU funds, and sustainability of implemented projects. Intermediate Body of the Fund is currently controlling the implementation of more than 1 500 projects, and more than 4 000 different types of verifications have been completed so far. The initial problem that was noticed was the beneficiaries’ lack of experience in the implementation of EU projects, so the Fund regularly organises educational workshops for the beneficiaries. Another challenge is the situation in the construction sector. Even though the construction activity has increased by as much as 15 %, employment rates have increased by only 6 %, which is not sufficient for the implementation of all planned projects, and there is a shortage of certain products on the market, all of which affects the dynamics of project implementation. However, given good and timely communication, all these challenges can be faced and resolved.
Facility managers praised cooperation with the Fund and pointed out that the interest of the citizens in energy renovation was not subsiding, and expressed their hopes that successful implementation of this programme would continue in the future.
