BUILD SEE project: Addressing the divide between the EU indications and their practical implementation in the green construction and eco‐social re‐qualification of residential areas in South East Europe regions Work Package 3
Country report ROMANIA
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...... 4 CHAPTER 1: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ISSUES ...... 6
1.1 CURRENT SITUATION AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING ...... 6 1.1.1 European legal framework ...... 7 1.1.2 National legal framework ...... 8 1.2 IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS FACED BY PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION...... 11 1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN ROMANIA...... 12 1.4 BEST PRACTICES FOR URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN ROMANIA. SWOT ANALYSIS ...... 16 1.5 CONCLUSIONS, SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 20 CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL ISSUES ...... 23
2.1. CURRENT SITUATION ...... 24 2.1.1. Infrastructure:...... 28 2.1.2. Deveploment and economic competitiveness ...... 31 2.1.3. Human capital ...... 34 2.1.4. Administrative capacity...... 35 2.1.5. The demographic situation of Romania ...... 36 2.2 BEST PRACTICES AND SWOT ANALYSIS ...... 38 2.3. SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 40 2.4. CONCLUSIONS ...... 41 CHAPTER 3 ‐ BUILDING INNOVATION ISSUES...... 43
3.1. CURRENT SITUATION ...... 43 3.1.1 Green building concept...... 43 3.1.2. EU context ...... 45 3.1.3. The situation of buildings in Romania ...... 54 3.1.4.. Romania’s national legislative framework ...... 59 3.1.5. Financial Mechanisms for encouraging energy efficiency in buildings ...... 63 3.1.6. Green building codes and rating systems...... 65 3.2. BEST PRACTICES AND SWOT ANALYSIS ...... 67 3.2.1. Green technologies and building methodologies applied at buildings in Romania ...... 68 3.2.2.SWOT analysis ...... 91 3.3. SOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 92 3.4. CONCLUSIONS...... 93 REFERENCES...... 95
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Introduction
This report was done by National Research and Development Institute for Environmental Protection (INCDPM) from Bucharest, partner PP2 in BUILD SEE project, financed byin the framework of the Transnational Cooperation Programme South East Europe.
The Country Report is a result of work done under WP3 activities at national level, namely discussions held during meetings within the local working groups: WG1 – public administration issues, WG2 – social issues and WG3 – building innovation issues.
One primary goal of urban planners is to efficiently control urban growth. Long‐term planning for cities includes strategies for housing, infrastructure, employment and social services. These are all crucial for establishing affordable, sustainable, well‐serviced communities that afford access to employment opportunities and community resources.
As a candidate and then as an EU member country, Romania performed visible reforms at local public administration level, both in competencies regarding decentralization and in procedures applied regarding relationship between elected responsibles and civil servants and also regarding the relation with citizens. Nevertheless, there are still issues needing improvement in Romanian public administration. As most EU countries, Romania has faced the need to decrease the number of employees in the public sector in order to reduce public expenditures and to meet financial pressures. In essence, the pressure to define the main public administration functions was generally directed towards the reduction of the costs. The main goal of that effort was not to identify a new role for the state or to redefine the size of the civil service, but to reduce the size and costs. This may also explain why the legal definitions of civil service size remained unchanged in general, by such movements in most EU countries. The public administrator’s role in urban management is to develop policies, plans and programs to validate the pairing of a city’s population growth with access to basic organization, shelter and employment. Public administrators’ involvement in urban growth management is focused primarily on the implementation of related government policies: Public acquisition of land for the management of urban growth and open space preservation Regulatory tactics for the management of urban growth and urban space preservation Incentive‐based methods for the management of urban growth and open space preservation Informational and Educational campaigns for urban growth management and open space preservation.
In recent years, the importance of sustainability has become a critical piece in managing urban development. Most large urban areas were not originally constructed on the basis of environmental‐friendly procedures and have therefore evolved into concrete jungles that lack eco‐ friendly attributes and often live under a cloud of pollution.
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Public administration is taking part in implementing changes that strive to make urban areas more sustainable and healthier for their inhabitants. The control of carbon dioxide emissions (through more environmentally‐conscious transportation options) and the creation of ‘green’ buildings are the first steps towards more eco‐friendly urban areas.
The public social policy is responsible for the following functions: Manages the public insurance system: social insurance, health insurance and unemplyment benefit Compensates the discrepancies between financial needs and resources through the social benefits system (a priority being the policy to sustain children) Organizes the social services for the community: education, health, social assistance Ensures social protection for vulnerable groups of society, promoting social inclusion mechanisms Develops special programmes to prevent social problems Develops or supports programmes for raising the quality of life for the community. The public social policy in Romania are still inefficient. They are reactive and offer solutions for specific crises. It is not based on the evolution of social indicators, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and plans. Europa 2020 is the European strategy for economic growth based on intelligent and sustainable economy, favourable to inclusion. This strategy would enable all Member States to get a high level of workforce, productivity and social cohesion. EU has established five major objectives to be met until 2020: workforce occupation, innovation, education, social inclusion and environment/energy.
Green buildings incorporate sustainability goals into all phases of the design and construction process as well as over the life of the building. Green buildings address the 3 E’s of sustainable development to achieve high performance, cost‐efficient buildings with low impacts on the environment and human health: Social Equity: Green buildings are designed to have exceptional indoor air quality and thermal comfort. They also maximize greenspace, access to public transportation, and enhance community connectivity. Environment: Green buildings are one solution to addressing climate change and environmental destruction. These buildings are designed to reduce energy, materials, and resources on a life‐ cycle basis. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) identifies the categories of focus for green buildings to be Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources , and Indoor Environmental Quality. Economy: Green buildings address the high costs of inefficiency by building durable, low maintenance, high efficiency buildings that are great for business. Green building strategies also support local economies by utilizing local materials and businesses.
This report presents the main findings of the three working groups which have analysed the actual situation in Romania and tried to offer solutions to the problems identified.
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Chapter 1: Public Administration Issues
Since 1990, creating a modern and efficient public administration was considered a priority of all governments. However, it could not mobilize the resources needed to create legislative and institutional framework of central and local government and, in particular, for effective implementation of reform measures. The causes for the impossibility of applying a real reform in the administration were: – severe financial constraints; – lack of political determination; – limited experience in terms of alternative administrative structures; – lack of training of politicians and public officials to meet the needs and demands arising from rapid changes in the political environment; – absence of clear regulations on staff and administrative structures; – inadequate definition of the duties; – inappropriate salary scale.
The Romanian Government took the following main measures to reduce the impact of economic and financial crisis on public administration: • Restructuring public expenditures with the purpose of reducing current expenditures; • Gradual reduction of costs with staff in central and local government by up to 20% of the costs recorded in 2008, by: – not financing 139,500 vacant jobs in central and local public institutions; – reducing costs which are not directly related to obtaining performances (travel, bonuses, increases in financial and in kind incentives); • Reduction with 15% of the costs with purchasing goods and services comparatively with the level registered in 2008, and establishing a moratorium for a period of 12 months, which prohibits the purchase of goods and services, including inventory items, not essential for the optimum functioning of public institutions; • Passing the law of the unitary salary system for civil servants and developing similar regulations for contractual staff, civil servants with special status, teachers and health workers; • Streamlining the costs with support and social benefits by providing them only to persons and families in precarious social situation; • Transparency of procedures for admission to a degree of disability; • Institutional rationalization by analyzing the number, structure, activities and staff of public institutions, disregarding their source of financing; • Close monitoring of expenditures in infrastructure investment projects financed by state, and penalties for breaching contractual provisions regarding the quality of work performed, and goods and services purchased. Number of public sector employees will be reduced from currently 1,394,000 to 1,068,000 people in 2015, the deadline of the application of unitary wage law. The reduction of 326,000 positions in the budgetary system would mean, at an average gross salary of 700 Euros, a monthly saving of 230
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million Euros and an annual 2.7 billion Euros. Thus, the number of public sector employees will drop to 1,244,000 people in 2011, to 1,207,000 employees in 2012 and 1,170,000 employees in 2013, following the agreed plan for the budget reduction with 1,135 million Euros in 2014.
The management of the urban environment has been identified as the key issue to be tackled for improving the overall quality of the urban environment.
1.1 Current situation and legal framework for urban environmental planning
1.1.1 European legal framework
Most urban areas are confronted with a common core set of environmental problems such as poor air quality, high levels of traffic and congestion, high levels of ambient noise, poor‐quality build environment, derelict land, greenhouse gas emissions, urban sprawl, generation of waste and waste water. These environmental problems confronting cities have significant consequences for human health, the quality of life of urban citizens and the economic performance of the cities themselves. As a result, the 6th Environmental Action Programme called for the development of a Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment with the objective of “contributing to a better quality of life through an integrated approach concentrating on urban areas” and to contribute “to a high level of quality of life and social well‐being for citizens by providing an environment where the level of pollution does not give rise to harmful effects on human health and the environment and by encouraging sustainable urban development”. The Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment concludes: creating high quality urban areas requires close coordination between different policies and initiatives, and better cooperation between different levels of administration. Member States have a responsibility to help regional and local authorities to improve the environmental performance of their cities. Thematic Strategy for the Urban Environment focuses on four cross‐cutting themes which are essential to the long‐term sustainability of towns and cities, which have clear connections to the economic and social pillars of sustainable development and where the most significant progress can be achieved. These themes, which have been determined in consultation with the EU Expert Group on the Urban Environment and other stakeholders, are: sustainable urban management; sustainable urban transport; sustainable urban construction; sustainable urban design.
Sustainable urban management is a process through which the sustainable development of urban areas, their immediate neighbourhoods and the regions within which they are located may be secured. It seeks to minimise the negative impacts of urban areas on ecological cycles at all levels,
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applying the precautionary principle, and to improve ecological conditions to make cities healthy places to live.
A sustainable urban transport system supports the freedom of movement, health, safety and quality of life of the citizens of current and future generations. It is environmentally efficient; and supports a vibrant, inclusive economy, giving access to opportunities and services to all, including less affluent, elderly or disabled urban citizens and non‐urban citizens.
Sustainable urban design is a process whereby all the actors involved (national, regional and local authorities, citizens, community based organisations, NGOs, academics and enterprises) work together to integrate functional, environmental and quality considerations to design and plan a sustainable built environment.
Sustainable construction is a process where all the actors involved (e.g. owner, financier, engineer, architect, builder, material supplier, permitting authority) integrate functional, economic, environmental and quality considerations to produce and renovate buildings and a sustainable built environment.
The main EU environmental Directives directly affecting towns and cities in the Member States are: Air Quality Framework Directive; Drinking Water Directive; Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive; Bathing Water Quality Directive; Water Framework Directive; Environmental Noise Directive; Waste Framework Directive; Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPCC) Directive; Seveso II Directive; Habitats Directive; Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive; Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive; Environmental Information Directive. All these directives have been also transposed into Romanian legislation.
1.1.2 National legal framework
In Romania, the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania ‐ 2013‐2020‐2030 (approved by the Government in 2008) stipulates general guidelines on sustainable development of urban environment.
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In Romania there is no a regulation that provides developing urban environmental management plans, but there are some normative acts that provide developing national and local environmental action plans, mentioning the importance of connection between the environment and cities.
Some normative acts related to environmental planning are presented below.
Ministerial Order No. 65/272/2002 on the development and update of local action plans for health protection in relation to the environmentspecifies that public health departments of the Ministry of Health and environmental protection agencies subordinated to the Ministry of Environment cooperate in establishing or updating local action plans for health protection in relation to the environment. Governmental Decision 741/2011 specifies that an Inter‐ministerial Committee composed of representatives of different ministries and lead by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has the task to coordinate the integration of environmental protection within the sectorial policies and strategies at national level. The Inter‐Ministerial Committee aims to monitor compliance with and implementation of goals and recommendations for integration into sectorial policies and strategies of national, regional and local level for sustainable development and environmental protection as set out in the Sustainable Development Strategy of the European Union – revised, Strategy Europe 2020 ‐ a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, Millennium Development Goals, National Strategy for Sustainable Development ‐ 2013‐2020‐2030, and consistent with other programmatic or policy documents adopted at EU and international level in the field of sustainable development and environmental protection. The Ministerial Order 253/2004 on the functioning of the Inter‐ministerial Committee specifies that the Inter‐ministerial Committee works by mean of sectorial inter‐ministerial Commissions that collaborate for producing and revising the National Action Plan for Environment. The Inter‐ministerial Committee establishes priority actions in order to facilitate the mobilization of financial resources and analyses periodically the stage of achievement of National Action Plan for Environment. The Emergency Governmental Ordinance 195/2005 on Environmental Protection, modified and approved by the Law 265/2006, also indicates the obligations of the Central Environmental Authority to elaborate/update and promote strategies and actions plans on different environmental domains as follows: national strategy and action plan for atmosphere protection;
national program of reduction of SO2, NOX and particulates emissions from large combustion plants; national strategy and action plan for climate change; national action plan for noise level reduction.
Related to the protection of urban dwelling areas, art. 70 of the same EGO 195/2005 on Environmental Protection, modified and approved by the Law 265/2006, specifies that local public
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authorities have the obligations to assure a safe and healthy environment for life by introducing in urban and territorial management plans provisions and measures for: maintaining and improving the natural and built background of each dwelled area; remediation of polluted zones; sanitary protection of water supply sources and works for protection against floods; initiating local plans and projects for maintenance and development of wastewater sewage. The Governmental Decision 1000/2012, modified by Governmental Decision 568/2013, on reorganizing and functioning of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and subordinated public institutions provides that this organisation, as the authority for execution and implementation of the environmental policy, has the following tasks: coordination of activities for implementing environmental strategies and policies at national, regional and local level; coordination of elaboration of local and national action plans for environmental protection. NEPA coordinates the 42 local environmental protection agencies (LEPAs). Among LEPAs responsibilities there is the obligation to coordinate and monitor the elaboration of the local action plans for environmental protection. LEPAs, in collaboration with the Environmental Guard and other public authorities, evaluate and updatethe local and national plans, as well as some environmental chapters included /integrated in other plans. NEPA should assure technical assistance to the local environmental agency (LEPA ‐ county level) including the development of Action Plans for Environmental Protection or the so called EMPs. National Environmental Protection Agency fulfils its mission by exercising the following responsibilities: strategic environmental planning; monitoring environmental factors; permitting activities with impact on the environment; implementation of environmental law and policy at national and local level; reports to European Environment Agency regarding the following domains: air quality, climate change, protected areas, soil contamination, water. Law 350/2001 on spatial planning and urbanism, subsequent amended, provides that central and local administration authorities are responsible for the spatial planning and urbanism. Main activities of spatial planning and urbanism consist in transposing the strategies, policies and programs for sustainable development for the entire national territory and pursuance their application in accordance with approved legal specialized documentations. According to Law 158/1999, the National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development was set up in order to offer an institutional framework for dialogue between public authorities and representatives of the civil society on problems related to policies, programs and action plans and implementation of sustainable development objectives in economic and social sectors, at national and local level.
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The National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development contributes to the promotion and implementation of the National Agenda 21 objectives and sustains the local public administrative authorities in order to elaborate local Agenda 21 plans. For achieving his attributions the National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development periodically analyses the objectives of the National Strategy and of the National Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development and makes proposals and recommendations for their integration into sectorial and local programs and action plans. At the level of urban areas, mainly Agenda 21 Action Plans are developed. There is no threshold related to the size of the dwelled area for development of an Agenda 21 action plan within the Romanian legislation. Initially, Agenda 21 plans have been developed in the frame of an UNDP project. After finishing of the pilot phase the Romanian Government has decided to continue the development of Agenda 21 plans during the period 2003 ‐ 2007. The final Agenda 21 documents have to be approved by the Local Councils and finally to enter the implementation phase.
1.2 Identification of problems faced by public administration
In Romania, a big problem concerning public administration is related to the process of decentralisation, characteristic to all institutions, which can influence the activities regarding integrated environmental plans that are applied at local, regional or national level. Therefore, this process implies a sort of ambiguity because people who work in public administration, at some point, are not very clear at which level the certain plan addresses to.
When we talk about public administration, we should refer also to the funds, or better to be said, the lack of it. The strategic plans which need to be implemented at several scales (either we talk about a town, a county or a region) need to be funded one way or another. The money should come from the public institutions like local councils or city halls, but because the interest in implementing these plans and of all things respecting them implies large sums of money which need to be invested, the public institutions are not eager to implement it, only if is necessary and it is stipulated by law.
Also, another problem that concerns the public administration is the lack of awareness programs especially for the people who work in local administration, but also for the citizen who should be more involved in activities regarding the environmental problems. Thereby, there are no specialists, or persons who have global visions regarding these issues and who could advise those who have power of decision in order to achieve the best results.
The problem facing public administration in Romania is not the number of employees, but rather overlapping the responsibilities, poor quality of provisions and poor results of the employees. Even if the number of reported Romanian public sector employees per thousand inhabitants is similar (higher) to that of other European countries, Romania can not be compared with other European countries in terms of labor productivity. It is not possible to put in balance the public system in 11
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Romania, where productivity is low, with another system from a European country with a mature administration.
Regarding the integrated waste management plan, the old hazardous wastelandfills cannot be closed because there are no projects implemented for the new ecological landfills, so that many delays appeared in the projects of integrated wastes management plan. Also, another problem is represented by the selectivecollection of thewaste, because it is not yet implemented in people`s mentality the need to protect environment. People don`t understand why they should collect wastes differently than the way they used to. Another concern regards the selective collection of the waste is the modality of the waste transport and disposal, because all the previous work can be in vain if an integrated system is not implemented, and they are transported and then disposal all together. In order to give the best results, so that people should know that their work is not in vain.
Other problems faced public administration are presented below: Lack of correlation between the environmental planning and urban and territorial planning, with other plans/programs that contain environmental components; In Romania there is no stability of administrative division, always changes occur; Insufficient resources to solve local problems; The low level of compliance with national legislation; Low capacity of utilization of available funding sources; There is no a regulations to provide development the plans to integrate the aspects of urban planning and environmental issues; There is no effective communication between public administration from spatial planning field and public administration from environmental protection field and from other fields related to the environment; Poor training of officials on environmental urban planning.
1.3 Environmental planning in Romania
The tools used to urban and environmental planning in Romania are: National Action Plan for Environment Protection; Local Action Plans for Environment Protection (or the so calledEnvironmental Management Plans); General Urban Plan; Zonal Urban Plan; Detailed Urban Plan.
National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is a planning tool that addresses the most important issues identified according to some well‐established criteria.Solutions to solve problems
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should be based on a interlacing of strategies and institutional and investment capacity, so that the national financial resources available to be used more efficiently. National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is a dynamic process of continuous evolution, due to time development of social and economic factors, reason which it needs for permanent updating and monitoring. Update National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is carried out consistent with sustainable development objectives, national priority measures and actions resulting from the analysis of development and the trends in environmental protection. Review National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is carried out of 3 in 3 years, based on the final report on implementation state of the projects and of the changes in the environmental state of the national level.
Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) To development the county environmental plans represents actually planning environmental measures applied locally.The EMP process is a cyclic process for planning, implementation and review of local environmental actions.This should be coordinated and facilitated by local authorities, with contribution of other relevant actors.This process has as its objective the development of a realistic and detailed document, program for improving the environment state, sustainable use of natural resources and the implementation of measures contained in this program. EMP cycle is in entirety a management system.This management system aims to identify, prioritize and implement the measures. The EMP process is essentially a participatory process. Therefore, it involves not only government institutions responsible for decision‐making and implementation of environmental protection measures, but also other representatives of county and municipal authorities and of patronal community and civil society.
In Romanian practice, the Environmental Management Plans (or the so called action plans for environment protection) cover the following sectors: Air quality, greenhouse gas emissions; Surface and ground water quality and use; Water supply; Waste water treatment; Soil quality and use; Natural habitats situation, flora and fauna; Situation of protected areas; State of dwelled areas; Waste management; Management of resources; Environmental degradation, accidental pollution, critical zones due to former pollution; Environmental education; Public information on environmental issues.
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Other subjects such as urban sprawl, transport, sustainable construction, and energy use are discussed mainly within the Urban and Territorial Plans developed by the administrative public authorities – County Councils and Local Councils. These plans have special chapters dedicated to environmental impact of different actions that are analysed into an integrated manner. The EMP covers all sectors: Domestic Industrial Commercial Public and private sector and distributes tasks to Government (especially local government) and economic entities based both on public or private ownership.
The EMP usually takes into consideration provisions of existing strategies and plans such as: National Strategy for Romania’s Sustainable Development – ORIZONT 2013‐2020‐2030 National Development Plan for the period 2007‐2013 National Action Plan for Environmental Protection Sectorial Operational Program for Environmental Infrastructure Regional Development Plan National Strategy on Climate Change 2013‐2020 National Waste Management Strategy 2014‐2020.
The EMP also has to take into consideration the provisions of sectorial strategies and plans such as: River Basin Management Plans National programme to improve ambient air quality Future action plans for managing noise issues, based on strategic noise maps Local, regional or national waste management plans Strategy for biodiversity conservation Plans for management of protected natural areas Programs for modernizing the national road transport system, for safety and security of road transport and environment protection Master Plan for Transport Strategy for biodiversity conservation National Strategy for energetic efficiency Program of existing and planned measures for promotion of production and use of electric energy generated by renewable sources Program “thermo‐power 2006‐2009 quality and efficiency”.
The local action plans for environmental have to be harmonised with plans and programs of other horizontal sectors; in the same time, they have to be into a vertical relation with the regional and nationalenvironmental planning.
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In Romania the following Guidance Documents have been used for producing Action Plans for Environment Protection: “Procedural manual for development and implementation of the local environmental action plans at the county level” “Procedural manual for development and implementation of the regional environmental action plans (at the regional level).
The above mentioned guidance documents have been elaborated in the frame of the PHARE project RO 0006.14.03 (year 1997).
For elaboration of Agenda 21 Action Plans a short methodology has been provided by the National Centre for Sustainable Development – available in Romanian language ‐ “Methodology for Implementing Local Agenda 21 in Romania”.
Other guidance documents available in Romanian language: Guidance notes on cooperation of NGO‐s and public authorities for implementing Local Environmental Plans Guidance notes for public participation in Local Environmental Plans implementation
These documents have been elaborated in the frame of the PHARE project “Strengthening of the civil society in Romania” ‐ component no 3 (2005‐2006).
The General Urban Plan and the related local regulation ‐ it covers regulations on short term regarding establishing and delimiting the build‐up areas in relation with the administrative territory of the locality, establishing the organization of the build‐up area, the functional zonation correlated with infrastructure, delimiting the areas affected by public units, modernization and developing infrastructure, establishing protected areas and areas for historical monuments protection, mentioning the placement conditions according to the constructed and developed volumes. Also, it contains indications on medium or long term regarding the evolution of the locality, the directions of functional development of the area, the infrastructure pathways.
The Zonal Urban and the related local regulation – is more detailed than the General Urban Plan and it ensures the corroboration of the complex urban development with the indications from the General Urban Plan of a certain area from the field. It contains regulations for the areas for which the Zonal Urban Plans must be created, regarding: organizing the street network, organizing urban architecture according to urban structures characteristics, land‐use, developing infrastructure, protecting the historical monuments, etc.
The Detailed Urban Plan and the related local regulation – has specific regulations on an even smaller scale, regarding the placement conditions, dimensions for one or several objectives on one or several locations correlated with the neighbourhoods. It is elaborated only for detailed
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regulations of the conditions established through Zonal Urban Plan, or a part of it and it contains regulation regarding accessibility, permissibility and constraints regarding urban planning and constructions, functional and aesthetic relation with the neighbourhoods, functions compatibility, etc.
1.4 Best practices for urban environmental planning in Romania. SWOT analysis
Two examples of best practices implemented in Romania are presented in the next tables. Through these examples is justified the involvement of public administration institutions in projects that aim to improve quality of people life and environmental quality too.
Table 1.1: Solar heating, Photovoltaic and Microwind Techniques
Organization Timişoara City Organization Website www.primariatm.ro
Effective for CO2 emission reduction ‐ integration of solar heating, solar and wind energy in buildings, green public procurement Abstract The SEAP developed in Timisoara is a complex example for large Romanian cities SEAPS, comprising energy efficiency policies, RES systems implementation and RES industry development, green public procurement, waste management and so on. It is considered to be one of the most successful SEAPS in Romania, with an important number of new local regulations approved especially in the waste management section.
Source www.primariatm.ro Affected techniques Solar heating, Photovoltaic, Microwind Desired impact 20% CO2 emission reduction Actual impact Managing the consume of energy, savings within the local budget with regard to utility payments, new waste management and RES implementation. CO2 emission reduction. Selected as a best practice by www.pub.ro
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Table 1.2: District heating fuelled by biogas or biomass
Organization VatraDornei City Organization Website www.vatra‐dornei.ro Effective for District heating on wood biomass Abstract The Thermal Power Plant based on wood biomass developed in 2004 in Vatra Dornei was designed for the heating of 500 apartments of the city. The power plant has a capacity of 18 MW and uses as fuel wood waste (sawdust) provided by the local industry (forestry area). The total investment fund was 4.5 million€ and was financed by the EU together with the municipality and the Denmark Ministry of Environment. For the implementation and integration of a local network local regulations were approved (http://www.vatra‐ dornei.ro/Hotarari/2006/HCL107.htm).
Source http://www.vatra‐ dornei.ro/Hotarari/2006/HCL107.htmwww.pub.ro Affected techniques District heating fuelled by biogas or biomass Desired impact Providing thermal power for 500 apartments Actual impact Providing thermal power for 500 apartments Wood waste management Selected as a best practice by www.pub.ro
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Table 1.3: SWOT analysis for urban environmental planning in Romania
Strengths
Harmonization of national legislation with the EU environmental acquis; Environment Fund supports environmental projects, especially projects from the National Action Plan for Environmental Protection; Providing public access to environmental information and environmental decision‐making at the local level; Increasing the role and importance of European integration activities and of external relations, improving monitoring and implementation of the environmental acquis; Transparency in dealing with mass ‐ media, the public and NGOs in order to disseminate the environmental information held by the authorities; Ensuring better participation of citizens in decision‐making through substantive changes in the relations between citizens and local government: activities exclusively for the benefit of citizens, removing bottlenecks, enlarging the participation of civil society in decision‐making, policy implementation “doors open” for environmental decision making; Developing a coherent and realistic local strategy, medium and long term, on environmental protection; Developing cooperation between city halls and government bodies, international environmental organizations and international financial institutions to promote ecological education campaigns addressed to population.
Weaknesses
Low awareness campaigns on environmental issues through media; Industrial sector (public and private) still show a reduced financial availability for environmental investments; The local authorities do not have sufficient resources to fund / support projects aimed at improving environmental quality; There were fewer loans from commercial banks for investment in environmental infrastructure; Not identified by all city halls all types of environmental projects that require financing funds; Reduced involvement of citizens in environmental issues of municipalities; Permitting by the urban services of the city halls to development of commercial areas to the detriment of green spaces or other areas with special features; Discomfort created by stray animals; Insufficient correlation of data on the health of the population and the environmental pollution in municipalities.
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Opportunities Rehabilitation and extension of the sewerage system through programs that will benefit from external funding; Thermal rehabilitation of buildings; Reducing limits of emissions from cars, as a result of the measures adopted by certain European Directives; Efficient distribution of public transport network; Changing technologies by the large industrial units as a result of compliance with the IPPC Directive for reducing pollutant emissions in line with EU reference documents on best available techniques (BAT); Reducing the concentration of benzene in the air by reducing emissions of benzene during refuelling, due to the introduction of gas vapour recovery boiler at refuelling stations; The possibility of developing a system for assessing the effects of air pollution on population health; Extension of selective collection systems of recyclable municipal waste; Increasing degree of access to funds for environmental projects developed by the Regional Development Agencies and other institutions; Attracting funding sources to support the development of a public sustainable transport and promoting transport systems capable of meeting the requirements of urban population mobility, having minimal impact on the environment; Contribution of EU programs in environmental infrastructure; Accessing external funding programs for water management works and for equipage with hydro‐urbanistic networks, guaranteed by the Roman State; Industrial units can borrow from commercial banks for environmental projects; Improving relations with the public authorities / local government institutions by installing telephone line “Green Phone”; The existence of a strong media field, with a role in signalling environmental issues and raising awareness about their importance; Recovery of degraded land/brownfield Elaborating urban environmental management plans. Threats Failure fully to legal provisions on environmental protection by companies/economic agents; Decreasing interest for the vast majority of the population to environmental issues; The absence of a balance between socio‐economic development of a city and the preservation / enhancement of natural capital available; Lack of correlation between the environmental planning and urban and territorial planning, with other plans/programs that contain environmental components; Increasing the number of vehicles in relation to the number of parking places; Existence of water supply works (own source) and sewers made without compliance with legal provisions; The risk of accidents with long‐term effects due to non‐use of best available techniques by economic agents; Rising of air pollution as a result of increased auto traffic and non‐compliance with the requirements of EURO standards for vehicles; Non‐compliance with the General Urban Plan projects of expansion and modernization of transport infrastructure; Underestimating the transport infrastructure in relation to the development trends of a city; Residential areas with drainage systems that generate negative effects; Alarming increase of animal species (rodents) that can affect human health and quality of environmental urban.
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1.5 Conclusions, solutions and recommendations Romania has a number of legislative acts governing urban planning and environmental planning, but there is a well‐defined boundary between these two areas.
National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania ‐ 2013‐2020‐2030 stipulates general guidelines on sustainable development of urban environment.
The tools used for urban and environmental planning in Romania are: National Action Plan for Environment Protection; Local Action Plans for Environment Protection (or the so calledEnvironmental Management Plans ‐ EMP); General Urban Plan; Zonal Urban Plan; Detailed Urban Plan.
National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is a planning tool that addresses the most important issues identified according to some well‐established criteria. Solutions to solve problems should be based on a interlacing of strategies and institutional and investment capacity, so that the national financial resources available to be used more efficiently.
National Action Plan for Environmental Protection is a dynamic process of continuous evolution, due to time development of social and economic factors, reason which it needs for permanent updating and monitoring.
The development of the county environmental plans represents actually planning environmental measures locally applied.The EMP process is a cyclic process for planning, implementation and review of local environmental actions.This should be coordinated and facilitated by local authorities, with contribution of other relevant actors.This process has as its objective the development of a realistic and detailed document, program for improving the environment state, sustainable use of natural resources and the implementation of measures contained in this program.
EMP cycle is in entirety a management system.This management system aims to identify, prioritize and implement the measures. The EMP process is essentially a participatory process. Therefore, it involves not only government institutions responsible for decision‐making and implementation of environmental protection measures, but also other representatives of county and municipal authorities and of patronal community and civil society. The EMP covers all sectors: Domestic Industrial Commercial
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Public and private sector.
Given the current national situation regarding environmental urban planning, namely the existence of regulations on action plans for environmental protection, but the absence of a regulation on development of urban environmental management plans (according to Thematic Strategy for the Urban Environment), we propose development the urban environmental management plan, specific for Romania.
An Urban Environmental Management Plan (UEMP) has been defined as a strategic document that sets out the short, medium and longer term environmental objectives and policies for an urban area. It defines a clear vision and the overall strategy and action plan to achieve quantified objectives and targets.
The overall objective of an UEMP, which goes beyond implementing existing environmental legislation, should be to establish a continual, measurable improvement in the urban area’s environmental performance, achieve a concrete positive impact on quality of life in cities, and lead to a reduction of the ecological footprints of cities on their surroundings and the regional and global environment.
The UEMP should support a more comprehensive or holistic urban policy (public and private), so tackling contradictions due to sectorial policies. It could be the platform for the necessary dialog between the environmental department, economic department, department for physical planning, etc.
It is of great importance that the UEMP to be instituted in the political system and that the politicians to have ownership to the UEMP and to consider it as a valid instrument in setting priorities and achieves goals for the local community.
The issue of policy integration goes beyond public administration to include the public, investors, developers and other actors. Therefore, planning processes should include special arrangements to bring government departments into partnership with other actors. The UEMP should be seen as a useful instrument in communicating with the public of the goals and visions of the municipal council.
The key benefits of the UEMP can be summarised as: efficient use of scarce resources; integration of environmental issues in other sector policies and activities; improving the environment; improving management performance; improving the ability of the local authority to attract grants and investments.
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A city with a clear environmental profile and priorities will also be more attractive for private investors ‐ especially when it comes to investments related to tourism which is very dependent on clean water, nature areas, charming, quiet neighbourhoods, etc. But also investors to business centres, industrial production see an environmental sustainable city as a precondition for attracting qualified labour and customers.
The UEMP should be developed to address a number of issues that are relevant to the local diversity of a particular urban area. It should include a basic set of requirements, but should be flexible regarding specific targets.
The main issues that should be addressed in the UEMP include: Issues relevant for quality of life and human health Impacts from/on climate change (mitigation and adaptation) Protection of natural systems and habitats Better management of resource and resources efficiency Better waste management Environmental integration in the urban development policies and physical planning Issues which are the subject of EU legislation Issues of specific local importance.
In line with the need for a “sustainable development” approach, the UEMP should have a strategic approach rather than the traditional approach. Thus, it should cover issues with horizontal and sectorial implications, such as: energy efficiency; greenhouse gas emissions; ecosystems protection; climate change.
Also, it is important that the plan includes action plans with appointed responsible bodies and indication of needed budgets for the implementation. Thereby it becomes a useful and easy‐to‐use tool in the daily work of the politicians and officials ‐ e.g. in connection with the process of determining the budget for the coming year in the local authority.
Taking into account the recommendations mentioned above, the local case study will consist in elaborating a guide to assist the local authorities and public administration institutions in developing an urban environmental management plan.
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Chapter 2: Social Issues
Social profile analysis is a fundamental tool for the territorial development. Phenomena such as demographic growth, suburbanization, and high level of morbidity or social exclusion can cause serious problems for economic development, social welfare and quality of life. Thus, it is necessary to apply an integrated approach for programmatic documents and to identify complex interactions between economic environment mechanisms, phenomena from the social sphere, as well as other influencing factors, endogenous or exogenous. In addition, elaboration of public policies requires a real effort on the part of various stakeholders ‐ public and private ‐ to coordinate their actions for a better outcome in the future.
A first step in setting the future strategic priorities is inventorying of the existing social realities at the territorial level, identifying the needs of the society and the possible courses of action and intervention measures.
The rithm of modern society development and the rate of resources exploitation led to changes in the adaptation and response of the population in terms of awareness on environmental values preserving in order to have a optimum health state.
The impact of natural factors (physical, chemical, biological, etc.) on human health can not be treated isolated from social and economic factors. The content of the social factor concept is very complex, this showing human interrelations with its specific living environment: the society.History of society development has formed the social status that exists today and which is characterized by a number of social factors, such as area of residence (urban, rural), standard of living, lifestyle and nutrition, working conditions and inhabited, level of education and culture, profession (occupation), ethnicity, traditions and customs, religion, demographic factors (number, density and population dispersal).
Thus, increasing awareness of the impact that factors from living and working environment, have on human health has lately led to an increase in the importance of this field at the international level, to an awareness of this and to the union of all domains with a possible involvement in order to decrease environmental degradation and implicitly to the health of the population.
Past experiences of all those who have studied the domain, has demonstrated that, unfortunately, sometimes it takes longer periods, until it can be demonstrated a link between a specific environmental factor and its influence on health or until we will be able to conclude on a certain specific trend of an health indicator which may or may not be influenced by a certain environmental factor. In the same time, changing and continuous updating of the legislation in this area requires an additional effort from all persons which are working in this field.
Thus becomes an indispensable pillar in establishing and strengthening of existing mechanisms which constitute the warranty of effective implementation, by promoting local implementation of all existing and future mechanisms through optimum collaboration with other sectors, by applying, 23
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the updating and improvement of legislation and by increasing of performance of health and environment systems.
2.1. Current situation In Romania, the last 15 years, social services have developed and diversified steadily, thus at present we need coherent mechanisms to guarantee the quality, sustainability and the adapting of services to the real needs of the population. After transformations and successive evolutions of national social assistance system, organization and functioning of this field passes through a period of modernization in the context of decentralization at the local authorities’ level.
Socio‐demographic and economic processes that characterize the period of the last two decades in Romania (aging population, reducing the working population, macroeconomic problems, mainly of the transition countries, etc.) and which will increase in future transform the problem of social protection of the elderly and in particular the problem of more effective administration of pension systems is the biggest challenge of social protection system.
Cohesion Policy is one of the tangible examples of how it should be a European policy: modern, flexible, anticipative, very adaptable to an economic and social environment in continous changing and having a substantial contribution to the Union's key policy objectives (Convergence regional competitiveness and employment and European territorial cooperation), such as the Europe 2020 Strategy [1].
Europe 2020 Strategy proposes three mutually reinforcing priorities:
‐ Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation;
‐ Sustainable growth: promoting a more efficient economy in terms of resource use, greener and more competitive;
‐ Inclusive growth: fostering an economy with a high rate of employment, which ensure social and territorial cohesion.
The overall objective is to support economic growth, social and territorial cohesion by reducing development disparities between Member States and UE regions.
EU enlargement to 27 Member States has increased geographical disparities in the Union, a growing number of European citizens living in disadvantaged regions. Reducing these gaps will inevitably be a lengthy process, so that the least developed regions is the first priority of cohesion policy [2]. The poorest region in the EU‐28 is, according to European statistics [3], East‐Northern Development Region of Romania (which includes the counties of Bacau, Botosani, Iasi, Neamt, Suceava and Vaslui). According to the fourth report on economic and social cohesion, Romania will reach a GDP per capita representing 75% of the EU‐27 only after more than 15 years from the date of accession.
The social environment created by man representing a factor whose influence on modern man is constantly growing. A growing number of people are subjected today to positive and negative
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influences of an artificial environment such as: housing and urban assemblies, municipal and industrial noise, vibrations, transport, road, modern comfort exaggerated, generally, and conquests contemporary progress. Thus, human health depends on those social factors that exist in socio‐ economic environment in which it is located, namely of the socio‐economic development level of the country (social and medical assistance, education, general culture and health of the population, etc.).
The major problem of the social protection system is the lack of strategic integrated planning capacity of social policies, especially the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies.
Today, Romania is facing big difficulties in terms of the social assistance system. The new social assistance law no. 292 of 20 December 2011 is the document that establishes the frame of functioning of the social assistance system. The new legislative framework brings several changes in the system of social benefits and the social services. The new provisions include funding issues, organization of the system, human resources involved, the availability and quality of social services, coverage degree and flexibility/adjustment of benefits and social services, the visibility of social assistance spending.
Some important aspects of this law are presented below:
(1) Social services are proactively and require an integrated approach to the needs of the individual in relation to the socio‐economic situation, health status, education level and social environment of life of this.
(2) Based on the needs of each person, social services may have a wider target audience, group or community.
(3) In order to achieve coherent social actions, uniform and effective in the benefit of person, social services can be organized and granted in integrated system of employment services, of health, of education and other social services of general interest, as the case.
According to the categories of beneficiaries, the social services can be classified into social services for the child and/or family, people with disabilities, the elderly, victims of domestic violence, homelessness, people with various addictions, namely alcohol, drugs and other substances toxic, internet, gaming etc., trafficking victims, detainees, persons subject to a measure educational or non‐custodial sentence under the supervision of probation services for persons with mental illness, people in isolated communities, unemployed long term and social services support for care givers beneficiaries.
In Figures 1 and 2 is presented the social assistance expenditure situation per capita in the European Union and the percentage of GDP allocated to social assistance in EU countries for 2011 [4].
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Fig. 2.1 ‐ Statement of expenditure on social assistance per capita in the EU
Fig. 2.2 ‐ Situation of percentage of GDP allocated to social assistance in EU countries in 2011
It is estimated that 650 million people worldwide living with disabilities, and if their families are included, it is considered that 2 billion people are affected by this phenomenon [5], about one‐third
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of Earth's population. These figures show that the theme of disability can not be ignored by public policy.
Continous concern of world states and international organizations for respecting the rights of persons with disabilities/disabled [6] is reflected in the adoption in December 2006 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2007 Romania signed the Convention, and in the second half of 2008, the Government took steps to ratify it [7]. Strategies and European regulations in this field, in accordance with provisions of the UN Convention, aimed at equal and non‐discriminatory access of all persons with disabilities of their rights [6].
Participation of people with disabilities at social life is one of the objectives of the Convention and of European regulations in the field of disability. Facilitate ways to access public spaces, in the buildings of institutions is one way to help increase their social participation. If in developed countries people with disabilities are visible to the naked eye, in Romania, many of them prefer to remain isolated or reduce their interactions with the outside world. Explanatory factors of this situation may be on the one hand, bound by fear of the reaction of others, and on the other hand, of the insufficient accessibility of the social environment. Developed legislation in 1999 (OUG 102/1999) has stipulated deadlines for achieving accessibility, but these deadlines were not respected, so the new law in 2006, practically it was renounced establishing deadlines [7].
There are also remaining gaps in the ability to evaluate and analyze the child situation, in particular regarding the disaggregated data pointing out the differences between children.
Among the main existing problems related to children's rights we mention continues discrimination of Roma children, poor implementation of adopted legislation, and the importance of increased budgetary allocations for education and health, and its decentralization with a special focus on children living in disadvantaged counties.
It is necessary to develop a comprehensive child‐centered family policy to strengthen preventive measures and to ensure that teenagers have better access to medical and psycho‐social counseling.
The system performs slowly a change regarding the increasing of preventive services, increasing social services and increasing of integrated services sector promotion.
More than one million children (representing over a quarter of all children) live in poverty, and over 350,000 are living in severe poverty. In 2009, the number of children that died before reaching one year of age was 10.1 per thousand, compared to 31 in 1990. Despite this progress, the infant mortality rate is still the highest in the European Union. In 2007, nearly 21 % of the Romani people aged under 40 years have not reached any level of education (compared with 0.8 % of non ‐ Romani people). There are 6,600 adolescents and young people aged between 15 and 24 years affected by HIV/AIDS for which discrimination, stigmatization and social exclusion are also major social problems of concern. In 2008, approximately 24,000 children were still living in state institutions ‐ mostly older children, many of them with special needs. An emerging issue is the number of children left behind by migrant parents: an estimated 350,000 children have at least one of the parents living abroad [8]. 27
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This is the current situation of the Romanian economy, from the convergence objectives perspective [9].
2.1.1. Infrastructure: • insufficient development and degraded state of transport infrastructure now, our country has only 263 kilometers of highway and from the network of nearly 80 000 kilometers of roads, only 20 % represents national roads (the rest are county roads and municipal whose utility has decreased dramatically in recent years, because only 21 000 km of roads have been repaired).
• providing insufficient and inappropriate according to European standards of basic utilities such as drinking water, in 2011, regional operators covering 87.5 % of the population that has water supply. Environmental data show that in 2011, public water system supply served approximately 10.9 million Romanian, which represents approximately 56.5 % of the population.
Figure 2.3 ‐ Proportion of population who benefits of public water supply service
Water treatment continues to be a challenge for Romania. Despite progress in recent years (particularly at the regional operators level), it continues to be an important issue. Regarding the implementation of Directive 91/271/EEC of municipal wastewater treatment, we mention some of the most important achievements, untill now, in Romania [10]:
Largest integrated environmental project from Romania is the "Completion of Glina wastewater treatment plant, rehabilitation of the main collector sewer and of Dâmbovița collector channel (Box)", whose funding contract was signed on October 8, 2013 and will complete in 2015.
Glina Wastewater Treatment Plant was put into operation in October 2011. For this phase of the project were spent 108.3 million euros (of which the EU contribution was 65 %).
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The most modern water treatment plant is the one from Bucharest, while the second largest in the country was inaugurated on November 26, 2013, in Cluj‐Napoca. Investment of 33 million, co‐financed from EU funds, enables the provision of about half of the necessary of electricity and heat for operation from biogas resulted of sewage sludge.
Project "Rehabilitation of wastewater treatment facilities to protect river Mures took place between 2004 and 2008. The project value was 16,374,644.00 million Euros, of which 75 % of the ISPA contribution and 25 % debut financing EBRD made by CAA and guaranteed by the Arad County Council.
Another important project is "Extension and rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems in Brasov, Romania." The total value of the program is around 189 million Euros. Sources of funding of the program are: Cohesion Fund (grants) at a rate of 76.43 %, the state budget at a rate of 11.69 %, the local budget at a rate of 1.8 % and the loan of regional operator in the proportion of 10, 08 %.
Another project is the "Infrastructure modernization of water and wastewater in Caras‐ Severin", signed in August 2012 with a total value of about 500 million lei and involving 15 contracts, three being of service 12 works. Funding was achieved through the Sectoral Operational Programme Environment.
Romania scored the following transitional periods:
For wastewater collection:
By 31 December 2013 to 263 agglomerations with more than 10,000 population equivalents, representing 61.9 % of the total biodegradable loading. Up to 31 December 2018 for 2346 agglomerations with less than 10,000 population equivalents, representing 38.1 % of the total biodegradable loading. For wastewater treatment:
By 31 December 2015 for 263 agglomerations with more than 10,000 population equivalents, representing 61.9 % of the total biodegradable loading. Up to 31 December 2018 for 2346 agglomerations with less than 10,000 population equivalents, representing 38.1% of the total biodegradable loading, including: ‐ Agglomerations with less than 2,000 P. E.; ‐ Agglomerations with less than 10,000 P. E. and wastewater discharged into coastal waters. Use of renewable energy in Romania is about 23 % of total energy consumption, the proposed target of Romania is 24 %, 4 % above the proposed target of the Europe 2020 strategy (Figure 4) [1].
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Fig. 2.4 Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption
Fig. 2.5 Structure on types of resources supplied in electricity network of producers with dispatchable units [11]
Public road network provides motored access in most localities of the country, the network density being of 0.64 km/sq km, the length of the network is 73,435 km (exclusively streets) of which 14,685 km (20 %) of national roads (4672 km European roads, of which 632.8 km motorways) and 58.7502 km of county and communal roads. From the point of view of modernization degree, public road network has 24.6 % (18,084 kilometers) upgraded roads, 28.4 % (20,836 km) roads with light traffic and 47 % (34,515 km) of paved roads and land. National roads constitute the majority network of the country, on them being carried about 70 % of traffic road [12].
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Rail transport ‐ Pan‐European corridor (CNADR). Public rail network covers practically the entire country, with an operating lines density of 46.1 km/1000sq, liaising with all rail networks of neighboring countries. Currently, the entire rail network is being rehabilitated and modernized to allow passenger trains to run at 160 km/h. In the long term, there will be a maximum speed of 200 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains [12].
• The Air Quality Management Integrated Plan [13].
• National Strategy on Climate Change 2013‐2021 [14].
2.1.2. Deveploment and economic competitiveness From the point of view of economic development, Romania will have to face major challenges. In the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) are shown ways in which Romanian authorities intend to use these resources in line with Strategy 2020. Thus, it is aimed to achieve the following objectives [1]:
• Develop infrastructure to European standards: upgrading of road system, rail, air and water in accordance with the principle of sustainable development set out in the Gothenburg Strategy (2001), creating a environmentally friendly transport system under the Kyoto Agreement, qualitative growth of water supply system, of sewerage system and waste management, an improved management of the natural environment and the sustainable use of natural resources and renewable energy for economic development and improve social cohesion;
• Increasing the long term competitiveness of the Romanian economy: by increasing the R & D costs, increase competitiveness of local and regional economies, the services development and business support infrastructure, for that our country to move towards the so‐called knowledge economy;
• Efficiency measures for the use of human capital requires increasing investment in education, harmonization of educational provision and demand in the labor market, attracting and retaining employment to more people, increasing job offers to satisfy the demand, increasing adaptability and entrepreneurship and promoting equality and social inclusion;
• Improving public administration services: in the absence of a good cooperation with public bodies responsible for the resource allocation EU structural funds, implementation of Structural Funds to achieve other objectives of NSRF would not be achieved. This strategy involves: creating an environment in which innovations are promoted, efficiently use of the "know‐how" and of the new technologies, the development of institutional frameworks and effective administrative, and the use of highly professional qualified staff.
In terms of economic competitiveness we mention:
• Low labor productivity in the Romanian economy as a result of the existence of a low base of SMEs productive of SMEs; the contribution of SMEs to GDP is 70 %, while the EU average is 92 %. This low productivity is largely due to the low rate of employment (Figure 6). 31
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Fig. 2.6
The objective of increasing the employment rate is conditioned mainly by the favorable evolution of the economy ‐ economic growth that depends on investment and international context. A stable economic environment it is important to create new jobs. Efforts and progress should be channeled in the future to the economic objectives of Europe 2020, representative for the perspective of a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth [15].
Thus, the European Union has provided to UE countries the sectoral operational programmes:
POSCCE aims to increase the productivity of Romanian enterprises. Its main objectives include sustainable strengthening and developing productive sector, creating a favorable environment for the sustainable development of enterprises, potential valorisation of ICT and its application both in the public and private sectors.
To achieve these objectives, POSCCE has five priority axes namely "A system of innovative and eco‐ efficient production", "Research, Technological Development and Innovation for Competitiveness", "ICT for private and public sectors", "Increasing the efficiency energy and security of supply ", " Technical Assistance".
Romania had at its disposal from EU, in the financial year 2007 ‐ 2013, 2.55 billion for projects funded by POSCCE. The total value absorbed through POSCCE was 368.16 million euros, respectively 14.45 % of the total allocation for the period 2007‐2013.
POSDRU aims to develop human capital in Romania and increase competitiveness. Among its specific objectives we can list facilitating insertion of young and long term unemployed into the labor market, facilitating access of vulnerable groups to education and on labor market, promotion of entrepreneurial culture and increasing work quality and productivity.
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To achieve its goals more easily, POSDRU is divided into seven priority areas, namely "Education and training in support for growth and development of the knowledge society", "Linking lifelong learning and labor market", "Increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises", "Modernising Public Employment Service", "Promoting active employment measures", "Promoting social inclusion" and "Technical Assistance".
POSDRU amount allocated by the EU for the period 2007 ‐ 2013 is 3.47 billion euros. The value absorbed by the EC through the POSDRU was, from 2007 to the end of last month, from 909.83 million euros, so 26.17 % of the allocated.
Sectoral Operational Transport Programme (POST) aims to modernize and improve infrastructure in Romania. Among the specific objectives of POST we can list promoting the development of balanced transport system on modes, encouraging the development of rail transport, waterborne and intermodal transport and promoting efficient people and of goods between the regions of Romania.
To achieve its goals more easily, POST is structured in four priority axes, namely "Modernization and development of TEN‐T in order to develop a sustainable transport system integrated with EU transport networks", "Modernization and development of national transport infrastructure located outside the TEN‐T in order to develop a sustainable national transport system", "Modernization of transport sector in order to improve environmental protection, human health and passenger safety" and "Technical Assistance". For the financial year 2007 ‐ 2013 have been allocated European funds for POST worth 4.56 billion euros. Since the beginning of the program until the end of October 2013, 168 projects were submitted to obtain funding through POST. The sum absorbed from EU for POST in the same period was 805.78 million euros, equivalent to 17.65 % of the one allocated to POST from EU for 2007‐2013.
Environment Sectoral Operational Programme (ESOP) aims to reduce the gap between environmental infrastructure in Romania and that existing in other EU Member States. The ESOP objectives include improving accessibility and infrastructure quality of the water and wastewater, development of sustainable waste management systems and protection and improvement of biodiversity and national heritage. The total amount absorbed by the EU through the ESOP was 973.19 million euros, ie 21.57 % of the amount allocated for the period 2007‐2013 [16, 17].
From the point of view of research, development and innovation (RDI) Europe Strategy 2014‐ 2020 has set the goal of straightening of 3 % of EU GDP to the investment in this area. Data released by the European Commission show that in early 2010, Romania was below the 1 % of GDP for R & D, while the European average was two percent. By the end of 2012 in Romania, all lines of structural instruments for funding research and development, innovation were closed, the budget being exhausted. According to the alignment plan to European Strategy, Romania must make the investment in R & D to 2 % of GDP by 2020.
Relaxed fiscality: although at first glance it does not seem, Romania has (except Lithuania) the lowest fiscal burden in the European Union. This is also because the taxation level is 33
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calculated as an average. Should be noted that the highest tax burdens are at the residents’ level of the city, people from villages having a very special treatment. In addition, the taxes paid by the population are much smaller and fewer than those paid by the economic agents. Obviously, on average, Romania has a low taxation. An example of special importance of reducing taxation in Romania is the decrease in VAT from 24 % to 9 % in the bakery field, in the last quarter of 2013.
2.1.3. Human capital • Insufficient proffesional training of the population. The level of education has progressed slightly between 2000‐2006, the share of young people with secondary education increasing by about one percentage point up to 77 %, a level which place our country ranked 20th in 2006 among the 27 EU Member States (figure 5). In the period 2007 ‐ 2013 was accessed Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development ‐ POSDRU, which had the overall objective of developing human capital and increasing competitiveness, by linking education and lifelong learning with labor market and ensuring increased opportunities for future participation on a modern labor market, flexible and inclusive of 1,650,000 people, and as the specific objectives are promoting quality of education system and initial vocational training and continuing, including higher education and research, promoting entrepreneurship and improving quality and productivity labor; facilitating insertion of young and long term unemployed into the labor market, the development of a modern labor market, flexible and inclusive; promoting (re) insertion in the labor market of inactive people, including rural areas; improve public employment services; facilitating the access to education and the labor market of vulnerable groups [18].
Fig. 2.7 ‐ People with low levels of education, by age group
• High unemployment, especially long‐term unemployment. Romania is among the few EU countries that recorded a decline in this respect, being the 22nd, with an occupancy rate of 57.4 % compared to over 62 % in 2000 (Figure 6). 34
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The study "Prospects for the labor market in Romania in the context of Europe 2020", shows that our country was placed in 2000 in last place in the EU on the share of population employed in services in total population employed (only 40.8 % compared with 56.6 % in Poland, 58.7 % in Bulgaria, 58.9 % in Slovenia, 59.4 % in Czehia, 59.9 % in Slovakia, 64,5 % in Lithuania, 64.7 % in Estonia, 65.4 % Hungary).
At the same time, however, we are on the first place in the share of employment in agriculture (29.1 %). These data reflect the backwardness of the country compared with the structure of the economies of other EU countries, being the one of the causes of the low efficiency level of the national economy and of labor market distortions.
At the European Union level there is a positive correlation between the share of population employed in services in total population employed and GDP / capita level, while between the shares of population employed in industry and GDP/capita, and respectively, between the shares of population employed in agriculture and GDP/capita, correlations are negative.
Fig. 2.8 ‐ Unemployment rate by level of education
2.1.4. Administrative capacity Institutional capacity of central and local government compared to the requirements of sustainable economic and social development, projects and campaigns initiated by the town halls: "We informed, aware and protect", the "Capital Increase Green", the campaign "My hygiene, your hygiene, our Health", campaign "European Mobility Week" which aimed to promote alternative forms of green transport and to emphasize that clearly mobility enhances the quality of life in cities, etc.
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Lack of trust in administrative structures and stifling bureaucracy. Over 70% of foreign investors consider that the bureaucracy from Romanian Administrative system is the main barrier to the development of a competitive environment (Fig. 2.9).
45 40 35 30 25 % 20 15 10 5 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Citizens' confidence in government Citizens' confidence in the National Parliament Citizens' trust in political parties
Fig. 2.9 – Citizens’ confidence in state institutions
Through involvement in many projectsthere is contribution to the creation of a more efficient and effective public administration in the socio‐economic benefit of the Romanian society, leading to structural and process improvements of public policy management cycle and to improve the quality and delivery efficiency of public services, with emphasis on decentralization process.
2.1.5. The demographic situation of Romania The impact of demographic evolutions on social risks is complex and in many cases difficult to identify because to the action of demographic factor are associated influences of other type factors. On the other hand, to talk about risks in the area of demography is somewhat inappropriate because of inertia, stability and rigidity of demographic events and to that changes that occur and their effects are slow, displayed in time and largely predictable. The profound changes that population has known and demographic phenomena in economic and social transition period had and still have economic and social impact but more important is the prospective dimension of developments and implications. Demographic aging is a process booming in Romania.
From synthesis of demographic evolutions after 1989 it is highlighted:
‐ Rapid and massive decline in the birth rate, in the early part of the 1990s, and maintaining it at a low and relatively constant in the coming years (with almost 40 % less than in 1989). Aaccording to a Eurostat report, in Romania in 1990, 23,7 % of the total population was represented by children up to 14 years. Two decades later, in 2010, the share of children in the total population decreased to 15.2 %.
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‐ A deterioration of the health status of the population and recoil of life expectancy at birth during 1991‐1996. Reducing mortality by age and consistent rise of life expectancy at birth after 1996 but without positive effect on overall mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 inhabitants) due to the increasing number and to the share of elderly population, where it is produced the vast majority of deaths (80 % of annual deaths occur in people aged 60 years and over);
‐ Installation of natural population decline (since 1992) by the developments mentioned of birth rate and general mortality;
‐ Restructuring of internal migration flows between urban and rural areas in the economic crisis of the 1990s which hit especially the urban population, by increasing the unemployment and the housing costs;
‐ A veritable explosion of external migration is the major component of temporary migration. According to the National Institute of Statistics, nearly one million Romanian working abroad. There are official figures, however, beyond the statistics, the number of workers, which are working legal or not, abroad, reach 3 million Romanian.
Moreover, Eurostat reports are alarming also in terms of the demographic curve. Thus, is estimated that Romania's population will be reduced until 2060, to 17.308 million people, representing one of the worst declines in the EU, according to data provided by Eurostat.
In the same time, in 2060, Romania will have one of the most elderly populations in the EU, currently, the share of old people in the population of Romania is 14.9%. Also, the dependency ratio of old people, ie the ratio between the number of residents over 65 years and the volume of the active population aged 15 to 64 will increase alarmingly, exceeding 60% by 2060.
Fig. 2.10 ‐ Elderly population by sex and averages 1990‐2012
Under the impact of massive labor force migration abroad, of the decline of births number and marriages, and of the population aging, the situation of Romanian villages, by far the hardest hit, becomes dramatic. This context is found in all regions, but in Moldavia has a very special character.
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In many counties from Moldova region, some villages risk to remain without inhabitant. Depopulation is not at all a phenomenon related to the forecasts for the futureit is a sad reality that is met in dozens of villages.
According to the latest data published by the National Institute of Statistics, the stabile population of Romania at 1st of May 2013 was estimated at 18,631,701, in decrease with 24 867 compare to 1 April 2013. Year 2013 is the 21th consecutive year of severe and irreversible demographic decline. Romania's population is now virtually identical to that of 1962 (18.681 000).
Overall mortality is an indicator that is not very specific but which can provide us comparative information on the county level and the county capital city level. Thus is observed an increased value in most cases at the county level, probably and by a low accessibility at rural level to health services and/or the lack of promotion and education of the rural population in spirit preventive (Figure 8).
Fig. 2.11 ‐ Health indicators – general mortality – 2011 [20]
2.2 Best practices and SWOT analysis
Combating poverty, central and permanent objective, of social policy involves: Promoting measures to support and stimulate employment, particularly salaried employment, the guarantee of a minimum wage, sufficient incentive and consistent with the need to ensure a decent living. Romania has a low standard of living because it has the lowest minimum wage in Europe, the lowest unemployment benefits, the lowest social help, etc.; Modernization of agriculture, rural economic development and regional development; Increasing of the degree of the vocational education and training; Development of the social protection system and its adapting to developments in the economy and society, at the demands and risks derived from demographic aging.
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The social protection system is not and should not be considered as the only or the most important tool to fight poverty. The role of social protection system consists, first, to prevent poverty by providing replacement incomes (pensions, unemployment benefits and allowances for temporary disability) and income support to families with children and persons with disabilities, and support the population under the poverty incidence at a sufficiently high level in terms of resource availability data, so that do not allow removal too high of living standards of beneficiaries of social benefits compare to the employed population. The economic crisis poses further issues, amplifying the risk of poverty because of falling employment, mainly to the decrease of the number of employees and of increase the number of unemployed as well as the decrease in purchasing power, especially low‐income people under the impact of inflation and restrictive policies in wages and in resource allocation for social protection. The role of social protection system should increase, but it will be the risk of adopting, under pressure, insufficiently prepared measures, that could affect system balances, application of the rules and respecting the principles on which its components are built. Avoiding the risk of imbalances and dysfunctions in the welfare system, the deepening of inequalities in the level of protection and the emergence of new ones, require the existence of an institution to deal effectively with professionalism, of social protection policy, a institution to have an overview of the social protection system, which should secure the smooth running of the system and promote policies and measures to adapt it to developments in the economic and social, and in what follows in its evolution in the crisis conditions, a crisis that can be larger than the ones we currently anticipate. It also required an integrating vision on employment policy and the social protection. In the long term, extending poverty risk takes shape, in case of maintaining outside the social protection system of some population categories, especially farmers and people employed in non‐ agricultural informal sector, which is currently not covered by social security schemes. Avoiding the production of poverty risk and amplification of social needs, in these categories requires the adoption, even now, measures covering their categories with protection schemes.
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Fig. 2.12 – SWOT Analysis
2.3. Solutions and recommendations For any economy, increasing the number of assisted social persons brings pressures over impact in the economy of economically active persons. To reduce this pressure, it is necessary to generate variants of active assistance to vulnerable groups. Access to decent work for all citizens is a priority of labor market policies across the European Union, because it represents the basic mechanism of social inclusion.
The following measures are taken into account:
‐ Develop a guide by the National Authority Surveillance Data Privacy, to clarify the conditions under which it can be achieved statistical data collection that would allow monitoring and elaboration of public policies and appropriate to the needs of vulnerable groups;
‐ Integration on labour market or in the community of vulnerable people affected;
‐ Integrating of social inclusion measures of minorities into sectoral policies;
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‐ The priority problems of vulnerable people remain the access to education, maintaining in education in secondary and higher cycles, access to training in modern professions, access to labor market and to housing and decent habitation conditions.
After 20 years of demographic decline and damage of the main structure of the population ‐ by age, and in a context in which recovery of demographic situation of the country is not in the proper place on the agenda of the political class, the demographic perspectives of Romania become more dismal. Economic and social risks on long and very long term are underestimated. The most important of the recommendations emanating from these realities and perspectives is the need to adopt coherent measures aimed at reducing the degree of deterioration of the demographic situation and possibly ‐ long‐term ‐ a stabilization of the population number. To mitigate social risks resulting from characteristics and current demographic trends, some measures may have positive effects. These measures are aimed at children, mother with child, health status, training of specialized personnel for old people.
Respondents suggested solutions for resolving financial problems relate to the banking system, to the European programs and the involvement of public authorities. For the first direction, the recommendations are "banks to provide low‐interest loans or subsidized by the State," "the establishment of financial and banking organizations that support particular social economy" and "the establishment of an social department within of state banks to deal with the financial support of the social economy entitie". Recommendations for European programs aims at increasing absorption capacity, ensuring expert advice and improvement of human resources of applicants for funding and management authorities. Public administration can contribute to "empowering citizens through media and promotion, and encouraging the private sector to invest through fiscal and legislative facilities". Maintaining obtained results can be ensured by "searching of partnerships", "establishing the obligation of local authorities to co‐finance projects".
Proposals to improve legislation on insertion of vulnerable groups aimed at both raising awareness, and "financial information and support to employers and training mechanisms for vulnerable groups on the labor market". For employment in the social economy to become a challenge for vulnerable groups we need not only informing and training employees and employers, but also adopting a policy that includes effective mechanisms for financial support.
Strengthening Mechanisms to improve cooperation between entities and local authorities contribute to achieve operational objectives included in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Romania Horizons 2013‐2020‐2030. Strengthening institutional capacity to mobilize all actors concerned with such issues and integrated approach to active inclusion are subsumed to social inclusion domain, demography and migration [21].
2.4. Conclusions Among the approached social issues, almost half are receiving some type of financial aid from the EU. However, EU financial support does not guarantee sustainability, and some of these projects were reported as completed when funds were finished. Initiatives demonstrate creative and 41
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effective use of multiple funding sources to build dynamic and expanded programs (which were sometimes supplemented by other activities generating funds).
Successful actions have provided sustainable employment by supporting professional qualification, placing in subsidised jobs to increase the experience and confidence of the employer, which involves partnership of regional NGO of national and municipal stakeholders, entreprises and other organizations. Strong partnerships and interaction with potential employers are essential.
Diverse and multiple sources of financing can play different roles and can support activities of intervention that are required of successful programmes and projects (including innovative planning, institutional change, long‐term perspectives etc.). The initiative ownership stimulates the local importance for projects designed to solve problems in specific places.
Successful employment initiatives require an agency for effective implementation and with experience, partnering with public and private employers in future and close cooperation with a number of interested parties (including NGOs and employment agencies). The effective opening of the employers to encourage and assist the process of employment of women and the Roma, it is important to counteract discrimination. Qualifying programmes adapted and flexible to certify the competences can ensure access to formal employment opportunities.
After the evaluation of the current situation regarding social and environmental ones in Romania and also socio‐demographic and economic processes that affect quality of life and foster social inclusion and gender equality were developed best practices, solutions and recommendations to avoid risks of imbalances and dysfunctions in the system of social and environmental protection and the development of public policy recommendations to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion.
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Chapter 3 ‐ Building Innovation Issues
3.1. Current situation
3.1.1 Green building concept
Lately, there is an ongoing concern such as taking a responsible approach towards nature related to environmentally friendly energy supply. According to Bauer et al., 2010, the building sectorworldwide uses up to 40% of primaryenergy requirements and also aconsiderable amount of waterrequirements. This means that the buildings must be planned and constructed according to the principles of energy efficiency, climatic aspects, and also water conservation. Buildings that show these attributes of sustainability are called Green Buildings. They are characterized by a high comfort level with minimal use of energy and water. In general terms, the green building concept refers to an environmentally responsible structure throughout a building's life‐cycle, from design to demolition. In literature, this concept is also known as green construction or sustainable building and was developed in the 1970’s in response to the energy crisis and growing concerns about the environmental issues. The most important feature of a green building is generally related to minimization of negative impact on the environment. In 2001, ASTM International defined a green building as: “a building that provides the specified building performance requirements while minimizing disturbance to and improving the functioning of local, regional, and global ecosystems both during and after its construction and specified service life”, adding, “a green building optimizes efficiencies in resource management and operational performance; and, minimizes risks to human health and the environment”.
Conceptually, the definition can be presented as a life cycle ‘efficiency’ ratio:
Life cycle eco‐efficiency =
In 2003, the Organization of Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) defined green buildings as those buildings that have minimum adverse impacts on the built and natural
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environment, in terms of the buildings themselves, their immediate surroundings and the broader regional and global settings. According to OECD, a green building is designed to minimize the total environmental impact of its materials, construction, operation and deconstruction while maximizing opportunities for indoor environmental quality and performance. Furthermore, green buildings are constructed and operated in ways that enhance their impact on the building occupants whilst reducing impacts on the environment. These notions emphasize that in order for a building to be ‘green’ it shall satisfy its specified performance over its useful lifetime, provides a focus for improving the eco‐efficiency of buildings and, by emphasizing performance requirements and impact on human health, also embraces economic and social dimensions of sustainability.
3.1.1.1. What makes a building to be “green”
According to Green Building Council (2009), the primary environmental problems in Romania are likely of systematic nature. Energy or manufacturing production and consumption is related to building performance, air and water quality, waste management and also noise pollution. The green buildingprocess incorporates environmental considerations intoevery stage of the building construction. This process focuses on the design, construction, operation and maintenance phases and takes into account the lot design and developmentefficiency, energy and water efficiency, resource efficiency, indoor environmentalquality, building‐owner maintenance and the building’s overall impact on the environment.
The most important aspects of green building concept are outlined below: Resource efficiency ‐ It is a fact that a green building is most successful when the concepts are incorporated and implemented at the design phase ‐ the time at which material/product/system selection occurs. Creating resource efficient designs and using resource efficient materials can maximize function while optimizing the use of natural resources.One aim of resource efficient construction is to reduce job‐site waste. Invariably, there are leftover materials from the construction process. Adhering to a construction waste management plan helps reducing the quantity of landfill material. This can be achieved through taking advantage of available recycling facilities and markets for recyclable materials. This will help reducing the construction waste by at least two‐thirds, creating potential cost savings for builders and reducing the burden on landfill space.
Energy efficiency ‐ The energy efficiency is weighted heavily in most green building programs. A whole system approach will bring improved results. Further, a careful window selection, building envelope air sealing, duct sealing, proper placement of air and steam barriers, and use of solar powered heating/cooling systems will contribute towards an energy efficient building. 44
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Water efficiency ‐ Green homes often focus on conserving water both indoor and out. Implementing more efficient water delivery system indoors and native and water retaining and drought resistant landscaping selections outdoors can aid preventing unnecessary waste of valuable water resources. Current research and practices have shown the natural processes can be a very successful method of filtering and removing contaminants from storm water and waste water which can then be reused successfully for irrigation purposes etc.
Other elements that define a green building are related to:
Indoor environmental quality which refers to the air quality within and around buildings. Is especially related to the health and comfort of buildings residents. An increase in respiratory ailments and allergies and the use of chemicals that can give off gas from materials have greatly contributed to sensitive awareness of the air we breathe inside our homes. The green building focuses on measures that can lessen the effects of potential contamination including controlling the source, diluting the source, and capturing the source through filtration.
Lot design, preparation and development – Thoughtful and efficient site design and development practices help lessen environmental impact and improve the energy performance of new Constructions. The designs with a focus on saving trees, constructing onsite storm water retention/infiltration features and orienting the house to maximize solar power gain are basic aspects in a green building.
Operations and maintenance optimization ‐ No matter how sustainable a building may have been in its design and construction phase, it can only remain so if it is operated responsibly and maintained properly. These operations are part of the project's planning and development process will help retain the green criteria designed at the onset of the project.
Site and household waste management–refers to the prevention, monitoring, treatment, handling, and residual disposition of solid wastes. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, and environment.
3.1.2. EU context
Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of EU CO2 emissions, as the European Commission establishes (European Commission, 2011). Over the period 1990‐2010, energy efficiency increased by 20% in EU‐27 countries at an annual average rate of 1.1%/year, driven by improvements in the industrial sector (1.7%/year) and households (1.6%/year) (EEA, 2013).The energy used for space heating (at normal climate) per m2 has decreased steadily by around 1.8%/year at EU level from 1990 to 2010 with even acceleration 45
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since 2000 (2.6 %/year).The specific annual energy consumption per m² for space heating decreased in all countries since 2000, excepting Bulgaria and Italy(see figure 3.1.2.1),(EEA, 2013). Can be noticed that the reduction was quite significant in The Netherlands, Ireland and France since 1990, as well as in some new member countries since 2000 (e.g. Romania, Latvia, Slovenia), thanks to a combined effect of higher energy prices and energy efficiency improvements.
Figure 3.1. Trends in household energy consumption for space heating per m2 (climate corrected); (Source: EEA, 2013)
Energy consumption for air conditioning per m2 for the stock average is increasing rapidly (Figure 3.2, graph 1). However, air conditioning consumption per m2 related to dwellings with air conditioning only has decreased since 2000 in most countries due to improved efficiency of air conditioners : by around ‐6%/year in Cyprus, ‐1.1%/year in Croatia, ‐0.9%/year in Austria, ‐0.3%/year in Italy and Spain. Trends are reversed for Slovenia and Bulgaria with an increasing electricity consumption of air conditioning, by respectively 0.2%/year and 0.6%/year (Figure 3.1.2.2, graph 2). The share of dwellings with air conditioning has particularly increased in Spain (from 15% in 2000 to 60% in 2010), Italy (from 11% to 35%), Cyprus (from 40% to 90%) and Croatia (from 17% to 27%). In Bulgaria and Slovenia the diffusion of air conditioning is more recent but important (15% of dwellings equipped in 2010). In 2010, the average unit consumption per m2 for air‐conditioning is still low as the percentage of dwellings with air conditioning is low although progressing rapidly. In Italy, Spain and Cyprus (three countries with a relative high share of dwellings with air‐conditioning, 35% 60% and 90% respectively), the average unit consumption for air‐conditioning is particularly low (less than 5 kWh/m2) compared to more than 20 kWh/m2 for Croatia, or 55 kWh/m2 for Bulgaria (Figure 3.3) (EEA, 2013).
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Figure 3.2. Trends in household energy consumption for cooling per m2; (Source: EEA, 2013)
Figure 3.3: Household energy consumption for cooling per m2 (2010); (Source: EEA, 2013)
Over the period 1990‐2010 energy efficiency for final consumers has improved by 20%, at an annual average rate of 1.1%/year. All of the observed improvement took place before 2007 (‐1.3%/year). In more recent years, progress in improving energy efficiency slowed down and the trend was even reversed in 2009 due to the economic recession. Because of the slower progress since 2007, energy efficiency only improved by 0.9%/year on average at EU level between 2005 and 2010 (EEA, 2013).
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3.1.2.1. EU Directives
Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 19 May of 2010 on the energy performance of buildings (recast) [EPBD recast 2010] Scope: This Directive aims to promote the energy performance of buildings and building units. The seven key points of the Directive are: . a common methodology for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings and building units; . the application of minimum requirements to the energy performance of new buildings and new building units; . the application of minimum requirements to the energy performance of: (i) existing buildings, building units and building elements that are subject to major renovation; (ii) building elements that form part of the building envelope and that have a significant impact on the energy performance of the building envelope when they are retrofitted or replaced; (iii) technical building systems whenever they are installed, replaced or upgraded; . national plans for increasing the number of nearly zero‐ energy buildings; . energy certification of buildings or building units; . regular inspection of heating and air‐conditioning systems in buildings; . independent control systems for energy performance certificates and inspection reports. Methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings Member States shall adopt, either at national or regional level, a methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings which takes into account certain elements, specifically:
the thermal characteristics of a building (thermal capacity, insulation, etc.);
heating insulation and hot water supply;
the air‐conditioning installation;
the built‐in lighting installation;
indoor climatic conditions. The positive influence of other aspects such as local solar exposure, natural lighting, and electricity produced by cogeneration and district or block heating or cooling systems are also taken into account. 48
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Setting minimum requirements Member States shall put in placeminimum requirements for energy performance in order to achieve cost‐optimal levels. The level of these requirements is reviewed every 5 years.When setting requirements, Member States may differentiate between new and existing buildings and between different categories of buildings.New buildings shall comply with these requirements and undergo a feasibility study before construction starts, looking at the installation of renewable energy supply systems, heat pumps, and district or block heating or cooling systems and cogeneration systems.When undergoing major renovation, existing buildings shall have their energy performance upgraded so that they also satisfy the minimum requirements. The following may be exempt from the application of the minimum requirements:
officially protected buildings (for example, historic buildings);
buildings used as places of worship;
temporary buildings;
residential buildings intended for a limited annual time of use;
stand‐alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 m2. When new, replaced or upgraded technical building systems such as heating systems, hot water systems, air‐conditioning systems and large ventilation systems are installed, they shall also comply with the energy performance requirements.Building elements that form part of the building envelope and have a significant impact on the energy performance of that envelope (for example, window frames) shall also meet the minimum energy performance requirements when they are replaced or retrofitted, with a view to achieving cost‐optimal levels. The Directive strongly encourages the introduction of intelligent energy consumption metering systems, whether the building is newly constructed or undergoes renovation. Objective: Nearly zero‐energy buildings The goal of nearly zero‐energy consumptionfor new buildings by 31 December 2020 is set. For public owned or occupied buildings this deadline is set by 31 December 2018.Furthermore, the Directive encourages the creation of national plans to put in practice thedefinition of nearly zero‐ energy buildings, the definition of intermediate targets for improvingthe energy performance of new buildings by 2015. It also encourages the provision of information on the policies and financial measures adopted to encourage improving thebuildings energy performance. The Directive does not clearly define what a “nearly zero energy building” is. Article 2(1a) gives a purely qualitativedefinition: A “nearly zero energy building” is a building that has a very high energyperformance.The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to avery significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewablesources produced on‐site or nearby.
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Energy performance certificates A system of energy performance certificates for buildingsshould be implemented. When thebuilding unit is offered for sale or for rent, the corresponding energy performance indicator should be included in the advertisements in commercial media. For the case of new buildings, the certificate should be shown to the prospective buyer. It should be handed over to the new tenant.
Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of eco‐design requirements for energy‐related products [Eco‐design Directive 2009]
The framework Directive defines the principles, conditions and criteria for setting environmental requirements for energy‐using appliances. Scope: In principle, the framework directive applies to all energy‐using products that are placed on the market. It also covers parts that are intended to be incorporated into products that are placed on the market as individual parts for end‐users, the environmental performance of which can be assessed independently. Priority products under the Directive The Directive will be applied to the following product groups as a matter of priority:
heating and water heating equipment;
electric motors;
lighting in the residential and tertiary sectors;
domestic appliances;
office equipment in the residential and tertiary sectors;
consumer electronics;
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. These product groups are considered to be priorities under the European programme on climate change (EPCC).
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Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC [Renewable Energy Directive 2009] In consideration of the 20 – 20 – 20 targets assumed by the EU, Member States have to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix. The use of energy from renewable sources may be increased by Member States most effectively by implementing energy efficiency and energy saving policies. Therefore, considering the close relationship between renewable energy targets and energy efficiency increase, improvements in energy efficiency help Member States to achieve more easily their renewable energy targets. Member States are required to adopt national renewable energy action plans. These plans shall set out Member States’ national targets for the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport, electricity and heating and cooling in 2020. These plans should be harmonized with national energy efficiency plans to consider the energy consumption reductions achieved following the implementation of energy efficiency measures. Furthermore, Member States are compelled to submit with the Commission reports on progress in the promotion and use of energy from renewable sources every two years beginning with 31 December 2011.
Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008on waste and repealing certain Directives [Waste Directive 2008] This Directive repeals directives 75/439/EEC, 91/689/EEC and 2006/12/EC and establishes a legal framework for the treatment of waste. It sets the basic concepts and definitions related to waste management and lays down waste management principles such asthe "polluter pays principle" or the "waste hierarchy": 1) prevention, 2) preparing for reuse, 3) recycling, 4) other recovery (notably energy recovery) and 5) disposal. It aims at protecting theenvironment and human health through the prevention of the harmful effects of wastegeneration and waste management. Member States can implement legislative measures with a view to reinforcing this wastetreatment hierarchy and take steps to ensure that, by 2020, 70% of weight of waste nonhazardousconstruction and demolition waste will be intended for reuse, recycling and othermaterials recovery operations, including filler operations using waste instead of othermaterials. Concerning hazardous waste, it must be stored and treated in conditions that ensure theprotection of health and the environment. It must not, in any case, be mixed with otherhazardous waste and must be packaged or labeled in line with international or Communityregulations. Any establishment or undertaking intending to carry out waste treatment mustobtain a permit from the competent authorities who determine notably the quantity and typeof treated waste, the method used as well as monitoring and control operations.
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Any incineration or co‐incineration method aimed at energy recovery must only be carriedout if this recovery takes place with a high level of energy efficiency.
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy [WFD 2000] The Water Framework Directive objectives are to ensure the good quality of running water across Europe by 2015. The construction sector has a high indirect impact on running water schemes across Europe. Reduced water consumption and waste relating to construction works and products contribute significantly to the fulfillment of the aims and objectives of the WFD. The installation of intelligent water‐saving technologies in buildings as well as measures to reusewater combined with rainwater usage systems are measures to enhance the quality of European water resources by reducing the pressure on springs and surface waters, and reducing wastewater streams.
3.1.2.2. EU Regulations and Communications
Regulation (EC) 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Eco‐label The EU Eco‐label scheme is a policy tool part of the Sustainable Consumptionand Production (SCP) policy.The EU Eco‐label is an informational instrument that displays information regarding theenvironmental performance of the products, providing information to consumers,procurement officials and retailers. The Eco‐label offers the possibility to consumers to choosea more sustainable product within a group providing the same function and can reduce theirconsumption of impact‐ intensive items since the EU Eco‐label can be only awarded by the 10‐20% of the best environmental performance products. In addition, the Eco‐label relates to theentire lifecycle of the product and its criteria are based on scientific evidences taking intoaccount the latest technological developments. The aim of Regulation is to establish a voluntary eco‐label award scheme intended to promote products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle and to provide consumers with accurate, non‐deceptive, science‐based information on the environmental impact of products.
3.1.2.3. Green Public Procurement The Green Public Procurement (GPP) scheme is another policy tool that aims at promoting voluntary measures to increasethe green spending of public authorities. GPP is not only important because governments areamong the largest purchasers of goods and services, but also because they can set positiveexamples for consumers and business to follow. With GPP, authorities can
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demonstrate thatthey are taking global challenges seriously and can inspire others to do the same. Table 3.1 shows the impacts and the areas considered.
Table 3.1. Key environmental impacts [GPP construction] Impact GPP Approach The consumption of energy for heating, . Maximize the energy performance of buildings cooling,ventilation, hot water, and electricity, . Ensure high energy efficiency standards for and resulting CO2emissions heating . cooling, ventilation and hot water systems, andelectronic devices . Encourage the use of localized renewable energy sources The consumption of natural resources . Include a systematic Life Cycle Approach (LCA) for building materials . Encourage the use of sustainably harvested and produced resources Over‐consumption of fresh water resources . Encourage the installation of high‐end water both duringconstruction and during the use saving technologies and reduce the use of phase freshwater during the construction process Emission of substances harmful to human health . Encourage the use of non‐toxic building andthe environment during the production or materials disposal ofbuilding materials leading to air and . Encourage the use of substitute water pollution substances/materials for dangerous building Negative health impacts on building users due materials tobuilding materials containing dangerous substances Transportation of construction materials and . Use energy efficient vehicles for productsgenerates CO2 emissions that have an transportation and on the building site influence onclimate change . Apply effective supply chain management systems
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3.1.3. The situation of buildings in Romania
The situation of buildings in Romania is presented by using official data from National Census and also by using different reports and publications about the buildings stock and its characteristics. The information presented bellow will be used for the SWOT analysis and for the recommendations and conclusions regarding the green buildings sector in Romania.
3.1.3.1 Total housing stock. Urban/rural distribution and the ownership in residential sector
According to the study elaborated by Atanasiuet. al., 2012, the building stock is responsible for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. In order to meet the EU reduction targets in this area, the buildings energy consumption must be close to zero, in order to reduce domestic greenhouse gases emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. Regarding Romania, preliminary results of the 2011 national census show that the total number of buildings in is about 5.3 million; whereas 5.1 million are residential buildings and 0.2 million are non‐residential buildings (Atanasiu et al, 2012b). Regarding the housing stock in Romania, in the urban area, the majority of dwellings (72%) are found in blocks of flats, in contrast to rural areas, where the majority (94.5%) are individual dwellings. Individual single‐family buildings represent around 98% of the Romanian residential buildings stock. There are around 81 000 blocks of flats, mainly concentrated in urban areas, representing around 2% of the building stock but accounting for 37% of Romanian dwellings (around 3.18 million apartments) (Atanasiu et al, 2012b). In urban areas 23.5% of the buildings can be found, which is more than half of residential units (52.54%), while in rural areas are 3 times more buildings than in urban housing. As a result of privatization of the housing stock, housing is now privately owned 97.2% of all households while the state‐owned housing represents 2.6% of the building stock. Over 50% of private dwellings and over 75% of the state property are found in urban areas (Atanasiu et al, 2012b) Romania is among the countries with the highest ratios of private ownership and owner occupancy in the residential sector in Europe, with more than 97% of the residential dwellings being privately owned and mostly inhabited by the owners. This is explained by the fact that after 1989 residential dwellings (mainly state property until then) were either sold by the state to the inhabitants or, by retrocession, returned to the pre‐communist property owners.The largest share of buildings is represented by the single family residential (95% of the existing housing stock), mostly built before 1989. Most of these homes are located in buildings with an age between 15 and 55 years, characterized by an advanced degree of wear and low thermal insulation (Atanasiu et al, 2012b).
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3.1.3.2 Distribution of building stock in residential sector by the construction year. Energetic performance and heating consumption
In Romania, the residential buildings older than 40 years account for 53% in total, 37% have 20‐40 years old and only 10% have less than 10 years old (Atanasiu et al, 2012b).Most of the buildings need urgent reparations, rehabilitation and also energetic modernization.In terms of surface, approximatelly 53% of residential buildings are built before 1970 and more than 90% before 1989 (see figure 3.1.3.2.1). The main problem is related to the fact thatt he buildings built before the 90’s have poor energy performance settled at around 180‐400kWh/m2/yr.
Figure 3.2. Building stock by construction year in Romania
Biomass is the main source of energy for household space heating: 47% of residential dwellings are heated with biomass (largely wood), 28% with gas, 23% with district heating, around 1,2% electric heating; other energy sources are marginal such as oil and coal heating (around 0,5% together). While biomass is important in single family dwellings (77% of single‐family dwellings) and especially in rural areas, district heating is dominant in urban multifamily dwellings (53% of multi‐family dwellings) (Atanasiu et al, 2012a).
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3.1.3.3. Distribution of floor area and the number of buildings by building type. New constructions rates
According to floor area, the most prevalent building type in the residential sector is the rural detached single‐family house with 43%, followed by the urban multi‐family building with 34% (Figure 3.3.). In the non‐residential building sector, the most prevalent building type in the existing non‐residential sector is the retail building with 31%, followed by educational buildings with 29%, health buildings with 16% and offices with 13 % (Figure 3.1.3.3.2). Existing retail buildings encompass a range of this type of building, from retail in mixed used buildings to supermarkets or large malls. On the other hand, the dynamic development of the office buildings sector is reflected by the evolution of the commercial office building stock over the last 5‐7 years, justifying the attention which should be paid to this category of building(Atanasiu et al, 2012a).
More than half of residential buildings are located in single‐family homes, where single family houses are equivalent to 57% of the total number of dwellings and 67% of the total residential floor area. Multi‐family dwellings are on average 34% smaller than single‐family dwellings, with an average heated area of 48 m², compared to 73 m² for single‐family dwellings (Atanasiu et al, 2012b).
Figure 3.3 – Distribution of residential floor area (Source: Anastasiu et al.,2012a)
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Figure 3.4 ‐ Distribution of non‐residential floor area(Source: Anastasiu et al,2012a)
New construction rates are generally higher in the non‐residential sector. In the residential sector the average new construction rate is about 0.64% (Atanasiu et al, 2012b). For the non‐residential sector, the situation is worse; there is no reliable data for each building category. The estimated construction rates for the non‐residential sector were very high over the last decade and for certain sub‐types even well above 10%/year. Market research indicates that floor space of commercial offices almost doubled from 2005 to 2011; however the new high construction rate has been slowing down since 2009 and reached 2.5% in 2011(Atanasiu et al, 2012b). The new construction rate was between 1.5 – 2.5% for the overall non‐residential sector and a rate of on average 5% from 2009 to 2011 for office buildings only (Atanasiu et al, 2012b). The following table presents the centralization of information described above (Table 3.2).
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Total number of buildings in Romania = 5.2 million Residential buildings Non‐residential buildings = 5.1 million buildings = 0,217 million buildings = 8.2 million dwellings =59,4 million m2 (total floor area) =559 million m2 (total floor area) Distribution of floor area by building type Distribution of floor area by building type/ (percent of total residential surface and the floor area in million m2)/ Number of buildings/ Number of buildings Urban areas Rural areas Detached Semi‐ Multi Other Detached Semi‐ Multi Other Office Schools Health Hotels Retail single detached family Buildings single detached family Buildings buildings / facilities 5.2% 18.3% mil. family and house 1.1 mil. family and house 0.5 mil. 13%=7.8mi educati 9.3% mil. m2/ 17%=97 terraced 34%=191 m2/ 43%=237 terraced 1%=5.3 m2/ l. m2/ on mil. m2/ m2/ 133.500 mil. m2/ single‐ mil. m2/ 6.300 mil. m2/ single‐ mil. m2/ 8.600 19.100 17.4% 51.300 5.000 buildings 1.189.200 family 80.900 buildings 3.660.90 family 5.300 buildings Buildings mil. m2/ building buildi buildings 4%=20 buildings 0 1%=6.3 buildings 8.100 s ngs mil. m2/ buildings mil. m2/ building 112.000 54.900 s Buildings buildings New constructions Residential buildings Non‐residential buildings New construction rate = 0,64% per year New construction rate =1.5% to 2.5% per year (average) Commercial office buildings (5% average rate) Year 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 (2005‐ 2011) Useful 2.5 2.8 3.2 4.1 4.4 4.6 4.7 area (mil m2) New built ‐ 12 14 28 7 5 2.5 rate (%)
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3.1.4.. Romania’s national legislative framework This section of the Report summarizes the key provisions of the main regulations on green buildings in Romania. Table 3.3. Main regulations on green building in Romania
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UE directive National legislative act Description Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Law no. 372/2005 on the energy This law is the main national normative act in the field of energy Parliament and the Council of 19 May performance of buildings and performance of buildings of 2010 on the energy performance of the transposition ‐ Republished buildings Order no. 157/2007 regarding This order presents the methodology for calculating of energy approval of technical regulation performance of buildings “Methodology for calculating of energy performance of buildings” ‐ Republished Law no. 153/2011 on measures Law no. 153/2011 requires holders to rehabilitate their properties for increasing the architectural‐ which, due to their advanced level of degradation, can represent a environmental quality of threat to the health, the life, the physical integrity and safety of buildings people, the quality of the environment and the urban public spaces.
Government Emergency Establishinterventionworksforthermal insulationof housing blocks Ordinance no. 18/2009 on built byprojects developedinthe period 1950‐1990, the steps increasing the energy necessary to accomplishthe work, howto finance them, and the performanceof housing blocks, obligationsand responsibilities ofpublic with subsequent amendments administrationandthehomeowners associations.
Directive 2009/125/EC of the Government Decision no. Establish the requirements that the products with energy impact European Parliament and of the 55/2011 on establishing of eco‐ must meet to contribute to sustainable development by Council of 21 October 2009 design requirements energy‐ increasing energy efficiency and environmental protection levels, establishing a framework for the related products and by increasing the security of energy supply. setting of eco‐design requirements 60
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for energy‐related products
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Law no. 220/2008 for This law creates the necessary legal framework to extend the use Parliament and of the Council of 23 establishing of the system to of renewable energy sources. April 2009 on the promotion of the promote energy production use of energy from renewable sources from renewable energy sources, and amending and subsequently with subsequent amendments repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and Government Decision no. Establishes thepromotion ofelectricity produced fromrenewable 2003/30/EC 1479/2009 on establishing the energy sources promotion system of electricity produced from renewable energy sources Government Ordinance no. The purpose of the ordinance is to create the legal framework for 22/2008 on energy efficiency the development and implementation of national energy and promoting of renewable efficiency policy. energy sources to the end users
Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Law no. 211/2011 on waste This law transposes the Framework Directive on waste into Parliament and of the Council of 19 regime national legislation. November 2008 on waste and Establish the necessary measures to protect the environment and repealing certain Directives human health by preventing or reducing the adverse effects of waste generation and management and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of their use. Government Decision no. 856/ Sets out the waste management and the list of wastes, including 2002 on the evidence of waste hazardous wastes. In this list, the wastes are presented according management and approving the to the areas and nature of the activity from which they derived. list of wastes, including 61
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hazardous waste, with subsequent amendments Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Water law no. 107/1996, with This law transposes the Framework Water Directive into national Parliament and of the Council of 23 subsequent amendments legislation. October 2000 establishing a According with this law, the local authorities are required to framework for Community action in ensure an efficient management of distributed water, and the field of water policy, with collecting rainwater, sewage and treatment of wastewater. subsequent amendments
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3.1.5. Financial Mechanisms for encouraging energy efficiency in buildings
According to report from 2013 of European Commission related to financial support for energy efficiency in buildings, tackling energy consumption in buildings is very important taking into accountthat about 40% of final energy consumption is attributable to housing, offices, shops and other buildings. For many years one of the supporting and financial mechanisms and instruments of European Union (EU)are focusedon energy performance of buildings. The table below gives an overview of the main instruments and available funding of European Union, under the Multiannual Financial Framework (2007‐2013).
Table 3.4. Fundings provided by EU for energy efficiency Funding Source Instruments/mechanisms Total funding Funding for Energy available Efficiency Cohesion Policy Operational Programmes EUR 10.1 billion EUR 5.5 billion planned Funding incl. financial instruments planned for sustainable for EE, co‐generation energy (RES & EE) and energy management
Enlargement Policy FP 7 EUR 2.35 billion for EUR 290 million for Funding Energy research energy efficiency
Programme for European Energy EUR 265 million 70% of funding to be European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEE F) dedicated to energy Recovery (EEPR) efficiency
Competitiveness and Intelligent Energy Europe Approximately EUR About 50% of the Innovation Funding Programme (including 730 million for each funding was dedicated (CIP) ELENA1) Information and programme to energy efficiency in Communication all sectors Technologies Policy SupportProgramme (ICT PSP)
For the multiannual financial framework 2014‐2020, the European Commission proposes to further expand and strengthen the use of such instruments in the next programming period as a more efficient and sustainable alternative to complement traditional grant‐based financing.
1 The European Local Energy Assistance Facility Partner PP2 – INCDPM Bucharest
For example, the Energy Efficiency Finance Facility (EEFF) aims at increasing investments in energy efficiency in order to improve the energy performance of buildings and the industrial sector in countries lie Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkey. In Romania, the annual specific energy consume registered in the buildings is extremely high, mainly due to the heat losses through the construction elements, as well as to the poor exploitation of the heating systems (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration, 2010). In this case, the buildings thermal rehabilitation and the use of renewable energy became key objectives at national level in order to assure energy savings and environmental protection. In order to facilitate the environmental protection, a series of policies and programmes started to be developed in Romania.
National multiannual programme for the thermal rehabilitation of the blocks of flats
This Programme started in 2005, and was developed and implemented by the Ministry of Regional Development and
Public Administration. Its main aim is ensuring energy performance of the buildings, improving the inhabitant’s quality of life and contributing to a better landscape. The Programme addresses to the owners` associations that want to increase the energy performance of the buildings that was built in the period 1950‐1990. According to the estimations included in the National Energy Efficiency Plan, energy savings up to 25% can be achieved through the implementation of thermal renovation measures set out in the annual programme. In terms of costs, the owners association pays
20% of the total cost of the rehabilitation works. The remaining 80% is provided from the state budget and the local budgets.The 20% costs are divided among all owners, each having a share, depending on each owner’s undivided share. 80% of the thermal rehabilitation cost is provided as follows:
50% from the state budget, within the limit of the funds approved yearly for the thermal rehabilitation programme and Figure 3.5. Example of thermal rehabilitation 30% from the local budget, within the limits of the funds process in Romania; (Source: European Urban Knowledge) Network, Romania approved yearly for the thermal rehabilitation programme.
“Green house” programme
Starting with July 2010, in Romania was implemented the programme CASA VERDE (“Green House”), aiming the installation of Partnerheating PP2 systems – INCDPM that Bucharest use renewable energy. “Green House” became one of the main instruments used for
achieving a high level of energy efficiency in the Romanian homes, encouraging the development of efficient buildings. The program was announced in 2008, modified and also
Figure 3.6. Example of “green house” concept (Source: University Politehnica of Bucharest)
3.1.6. Green building codes and rating systems
Events such as earthquakes highlight the importance of implementing building codes which should continually evolve from the point of view of their consistent enforcement. Governments around the world rely on building codes to protect their citizens from harm due tofire, structural colla pse and other building related risks. The codes should accomplish these needs by laying out at least the minimum requirements for both construction materials and construction practices. So, codes are important to reduce risks to an acceptable level, but must be kept in mind the fact that they cannot eliminate all potential building‐related hazards. There is a shared role and responsibility between diverse stakeholders starting with building owners, operators and licensed professionals. In this order, many countries have developed their own standards for green building or energy efficiency for buildings, but the most recognized rating standards are Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) from United Kingdom and The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from United States. Partner PP2 – INCDPM Bucharest
LEED is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in cooperation with Green Building Certification Institute in August 1998. LEED is a voluntary system that building developers, designers, and architects can use to identify their buildings as high performing on environmental and energy dimensions (Romanian Green Building Council, LEED Information Package). LEED certification provides meaningful verification that a building’s design was implemented as specified. The new and existing buildings are designed with driving priorities among energy savings, water efficiency, location efficiency, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
LEED‐certified buildings are divided into five main categories: 1. sustainable sites, 2. water efficiency, 3. energy and atmosphere, 4. materials and resources 5. indoor environmental quality.
BREEAM is one of the most important ratingsystems for buildings used worldwide, and it was first launched in 1990 (Romanian Green Building Council, BREEAM Information Package). BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation.In this order, the BREEAM assessment uses recognized measures of performance, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology. They include aspects related to energy and water use, the internal environment (health and well‐being), pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes.
3.1.6.1 Energy Performance Certificate in Romania
Energy performance certificate (EPC) means a certificate recognized by a Member State, which indicates the energy performance of a building or building unit, calculated according to a methodology adopted. Member States must ensure that an EPC is issued for buildings or building units which are constructed, sold or rented out to a new tenant. On 9 July 2015, this threshold of 500 m2 shall be lowered to 250 m2 (Directive 2012/27/EU). In Romania, the energy performance certificate has become mandatory for the real estate market players starting the 20th of July 2013, (according to Law no. 159 of 2013 published in the official record, “Monitorul Oficial”).The investor, owner or administrator of a building, has to provide the potential buyer or tenant, as being the case, with a copy of the energy performance certificate, informing about the energy performance of the building or building units that it will be sold or let.The goal of this initiative is to promote legislative measures designed to improve the energy performance of buildings, taking into account outdoors climatic conditions, the location and optimal indoor comfort requirements.The energy efficiency certificate is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued, except in situations where, for buildings or building units that are certified, major renovations are made that change their energy consumption (Prada, 2011).Energy performance certificates are issued by authorized energy auditors.
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The EPC shall include the energy performance of a buildingand reference values such as minimum energy performance requirements in order to make itpossible for owners or tenants of the building or building unit to compare and assess its energy performance. An example of energy performance certificate in Romania is presented in the figure 3.7. The Government sustains peoples for purchasing homes through the “First Home” program which is accompanied by EPC. The main condition is related to the fact that can be traded through this program homes that are included in classes A, B or C of EPC. In this program it can buy that first home with bank loan, and the Romanian state, represented by the Ministry of Finance guarantee 100% ‐repayment, with a right of mortgage registered in the land registry.
Figure 3.7. Energy performance certificate(Source: Romania Green Building Council)
3.2. Best practices and SWOT analysis
In this chapter are presented in the form of factsheets, some of the best practices applied at buildings in Romania. The factsheets were completed with information about different types of buildings (residential and non‐residential, urban and rural, single‐family and multi‐family buildings, new buildings and existent buildings) and about the green
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technologies that were used. The information was available from The European platform for green buildings practitioners.
3.2.1. Green technologies and building methodologies applied at buildings in Romania
For each factsheet, the following information were completed: - name of the building - representative picture - location - building type: ‐ category : office build, rural house, multi‐family, school ‐ the state of the building: new building or renovated - certification: energetic class, Leed or BREAM category and other - clasification of green technology (energy, water, materials, life quality improvement, environmental protection) - the code of each technology means: the technology type grouped by „green building” components: energy (E), water (W), materials (M) or other ( LQI forLife quality Improvement, EP for Environmental Protection, Indoor Environmental Quality, etc ) - the building type detailed description : OB for office buildings (OBN for new building and OBR for renovated), SCH for schools, H for hotels, R for retail buildings, COM for commercial buildings, SDH for semi‐detashed houses, DH for detached houses and MFH for multi‐family houses. A number of 18 buildings were selected for the completion of the factsheets. The factsheets are grouped by the building type: ‐Non‐residential - office buildings (new buildings and renovated) - schools - hotels - retail - commercial ‐Residential - semi‐detached houses - detached houses - multi‐family houses
3.2.1.1.Non‐residential buildings
Office buildings
‐Renovated ‐
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NO.1
Building name: Romania Green Building Council Office Unit
Location: Ialomicioareistreet, no.21, 1st district, 011277 Bucharest Romania. BEFORE AFTER
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Office building Renovation (construction year:1998) Green certification Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other C LEED Platinum Living Building
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.1.OBR Technology Name:Home appliances, lighting devices and electrical circuits upgrade.
Green Technology The energy efficient home appliances from the Green range: (vacuum cleaner, Description washing machine, dishwasher); New lightning devices for the whole surface of the ground floor: (greenbulbs). New electrical circuits and other additional elements (sockets, switches, cable trays) Green Technology - Less energy by 30% for vacuum cleaner; Quantification - Less energy by 20% for washing machine; - Less energy by 35% for dishwasher; - Primary energy need: 273,00kWh PE/m2/year; - Primary energy need for standard building: 167,00 kWh PE/m2/year; - Breakdown for energy consumption: o Heating 253 kWh/sqm/year o Hot Water 14 kWh/sqm/year o Lighting 6 kWh/sqm/year.
Code: E.2.OBR Technology name: Heating system Green Condensing gas boiler
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TechnologyDescription
Green Technology The Green‐star condensing combined boilers have an annual efficiency of over Quantification 90%, efficiently producing heat for heating and/or hot water system Code: W.1.OBR Technology name: Rainwater collection solutions Code: M.1.OBR Technology name: Reusing the resources Green Technology Bricks, debris, wooden strips, furniture Description Code: M.2.OBR Technology name: White skims TF1000 for the wall finishes Green Technology Chosen due to its properties of adjusting the humidity in accordance to the Description environment and allowing the walls to breath. Code: M.3.OBR Technology name: Sunscreen Green Technology A remarkable green element is the sun protection screen. Description Green Screen® Reviveis is a window shading fabric made out of 89% recycled plastic content, is Cradle‐to‐Cradle certified, that has low VOC emissions and is 100% recyclable.
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‐New Buildings‐
NO.2
Building name: UNICREDIT TOWER Romania
Location:Expozitiei Boulevard, no.. 1F , 12101 Bucharest, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Office building: High tower New Construction Green certification Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.3.OBN Environmental Protection (EP)
Green Technology Gas boiler, Water chiller, Natural ventilation, Air source heat pump description
Green Technology Primary energy need:149,40 kWh PE/m2/an quantification Primary energy need for standard building :288,70 kWh PE/m2/an Calculation method: Primary energy needs Final Energy:149,40 kWh FE/m2/an Breakdown for energy consumption : Heating 83.2, Hot Water ‐ 12.6, Air Conditioning‐ 29.3, Mechanical Ventilation ‐ 18.3, Lighting ‐ 6.0
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NO.3
Building name:CRYSTAL TOWER Business Center
Location:Iancu de Hunedoara Boulevard , no. 1 Bucharest, Romania
Sourse:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Office building New Construction Green certification Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Life quality Improvement(LQI) Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Environmental Protection (EP) Code: E.4.OBN Technology name: Green technology systems Green Technology Gas boiler, Reversible heat pump, VRV Syst. (Variable refrigerant Volume), Double flow Description heat exchanger, Air source heat pump
Code: E.5.OBN Technology name: BMS Green Technology The construction benefits of the latest generation BMS (Building Management System) Description which controls, monitors and optimizes the building's facilities, the shading system, mechanical and electrical equipment’s for comfort, safety and efficiency. Green Technology Primary energy need:99,70 kWh PE/m2/year Quantification Primary energy need for standard building:153,94 kWh PE/m2/year Calculation method: Primary energy needs Code: W.2.OBN Technology name: Water efficiency equipment Green Technology Reduced water consumption using efficient equipment
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Description Code: M.4.OBN Technology name: Double skin facade Green Technology Double Skin Glass Facade is used for the first time in Romania, being one of the best description ventilated facade systems existing in the market at this time. Code:LQI.1.OBN Technology name: VRV II Code: EP.1.OBN Code: E.6.OBN
Green Technology Because Daikin VRV ® system recirculates only the required amount of refrigerant ‐ Description hence the name 'Variable Refrigerant Volume' ‐ different rooms can enjoy simultaneously different temperatures. Daikin inverter technology was also implemented for the first time in Romania, and allows the system to adjust the power required at a certain time . This ensures maximum comfort (temperature fluctuations are minimized) and maximum efficiency (without unnecessary energy consumption when switching on and off). All these leading to minimum operating costs.
NO. 4
Building name: Olympia Tower Romania
Location: Decebal Boulevard, no. 25‐ 29,030964, Bucharest, Romania Source:www.construction21.com Building type Office building New Construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification Code: E.7.OBN Technology Name: Heating system Green Technology Gas boiler Description
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Code: E.8.OBN Technology name: Hot water system Green Technology Individual electric boiler. Description
Code: E.9.OBN Technology name: Cooling system Green Technology Water chiller. Description Code: E.10.OBN Technology name: Ventilation system Green Technology Compensated Air Handling Unit. Description Code: E.11.OBN Technology name: BMS Green Technology BM Honeywell connected to heating system, chillers and fire detection Description systems Green Technology Primary energy need: 136,94 kWh PE/m2/an; Quantification Primary energy need for standard building: 131,54 kWh PE/m2/an; Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating : 81.98 kWh/mp/year, Hot water: 13.51 kWh/mp/year, Air conditioning: 27.15kWh/mp, Ventilation: 7.06kWh/mp, Lighting: 7.24 kWh/mp/year.
NO.5
Building name: Amera Tower ‐ LEED Gold
Location: Calea Baciului, no. 2‐4, 400 230 Cluj‐ Napoca, Romania.
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Office building New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification Life quality
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Improvement (LQI)
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) Code: E.11.OBN Technology name: VRV Syst. (Variable refrigerant Volume)
Green Technology VRF system ventilation / cooling / heating is equipped with heat recovery and Description heat pump, generating significant operational savings. Green Technology The entire system is controlled by a complete BMS and provides 25 m3/hour of Quantification fresh air/person; standard based on 6 m2 for office area per person and 1.5 m2 for person for meeting rooms. Primary energy need: 109,50 kWh PE/m2/year; Primary energy need for standard building: 167,10 kWh PE/m2/year; Code: W.3.OBN Technology name: Rainwater management system Green Technology Consumption of harvested rainwater: 106,00 m3/year Quantification Consumption from water network: 2 761,00 m3/year Technology name: Indoor Air quality Code: LQI.2 Code: IEQ.1
Green Technology 25 m3/hour fresh air per person. Quantification
NO.6
Building name:City Business Centre
Location:C.Brediceanu , no. 10 , 300 011 Timişoara Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Office Building New Construction Green certification Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other A
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Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Life quality Improvement (LQI) Code: E.13.OBN Technology name: HVAC / Ventilation, Cooling system with revolutionary chiller with special centrifugal compressor with magnetic levitation and oil free Green Technology Frequency controlled with the ability to realize a European seasonal energy efficiency Description ratio (ESEER) between 5.5 and 11.8 reducing the amount of energy consumed by 40%.
Code: M.5.OBN Technology name: Facades in aluminum profile system Schuco FW50+ Green Technology The solution chosen for venetian glass shading increases the thermal insulation description performance of the facades. Code: LQI.2.OBN Technology name: BMS Schneider Electric
Code: E.14.OBN Green Technology Innovation for sustainable development of the Schneider Electric was based on description integration of building management system (BMS) the architectural features of the building, using solutions such as opening and closing shutters detectors based on climatic parameters ‐ the first of its kind implemented in Romania, the adaptation of the lighting of the building according to the weather conditions as well as a revolutionary cooling system that reduces power consumption by 40%.
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NO.7
Building name:DIMAR
Location:.Matac Gheorghe street,no. 15‐17, 2nd district , 20341 Bucharest, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Office building New Construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification B
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.15.OBN Technology Name: Green technology systems Green technology Gas boiler, coil, Reversible Heat Pump, VRV system, Natural ventilation, Micro wind description turbines
Green technology Primary energy need:327,50 kWh PE/m2/year 2 quantification Primary energy need for standard building:346,60 kWh PE/m /year Calculation method: Primary energy needs Final energy:208,33 kWh FE/m2/year Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating= 138.77 kWh/m2 year Hot water consumption = 11.67 kWh/m2/year Conditioning = 23.63 kWh/m2/ year Illumination = 34.26 kWh/m2/ year
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NO.8
Building name: SWAN Office & Technology Park
Location: Sos.Bucuresti Nord no. 15‐23, 077190 Voluntari, Ilfov, Romania Source:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Office building New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.16.OBN Technology Name: Building management system–BMS Green Technology BMS (Building Management System) that offers efficient control of integrated utilities and Description security systems, including individual metering of heating and air conditioning
Code: M.6.OBN Technology name: Aluminum profile systems with enhanced thermal insulation Schüco FW50+HI, Schüco AWS 70 BS.HI and Schüco ADS 70.HI Green Technology Curtain walls, windows and doors made of aluminum profile systems with enhanced description thermal insulation Green Technology Using a 32mm thick insulated glass obtains an overall heat transfer coefficient of the quantification building: 1.4 W/m2K.
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Schools/Education
NO.9
Building name: Transylvania College
Location: Baisoara street, no. 2A, 400486 Cluj‐ Napoca, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type School New Construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification Life quality Improvement (LQI) Code: E.17.SCH Technology Name:Heating system Green Technology Heating centralized Description Water radiator Underfloor electric heating Fan coil Air heater Solar thermal Code: E.18.SCH Technology name: Hot water system Green Technology Thermal Solar Panel Description
Code: E.19.SCH Technology name: Cooling system Green Technology Reversible Heat Pump Description Fan coil Code: E.20.SCH Technology name: Ventilation system Code: LQI.3.SCH
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Green Technology Natural ventilation Description Code: E.21.SCH Technology name:Renewable systems Green Technology Thermal Solar Panel Description Energy recovery from waste Green Technology Renewable energy production : 27,00 %; Quantification Primary energy need: 141,67 kWh PE/m2/an; Primary energy need for standard building: 214,14 kWh PE/m2/an; Consumption: 125 Kw/mp/an Code: M.7.SCH Technology name: Glass Green Technology Using triplex windows to reduce heat loss through glass areas; Description Code: M.8.SCH Technology name: Fonoabsorbant materials Code: LQI.4.SCH Green Technology Used to protect from outside and inside noise. Description
Hotels NO.10
Building name: AtraDoftana BB
Location: FundaturaCerbului, nr. 780B, 107640Valea Doftanei România
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Pension New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.21.H Technology Name: Heating system
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Green Technology Water radiator Description Radiant ceiling Code: E.22.H Technology name: Ventilation system Green Technology Natural ventilation Description Code: E.23.H Technology name: Renewable systems Green Technology Wood boiler Description Green Technology Primary energy need: 108,91 kWh PE/m2/year; Quantification Primary energy need for standard building: 113,65 kWh PE/m2/year; Code: M.9.H Technology name: Ecological materials. Green Technology Built from ecological materials, with low energy consumption, half buried in the Description hill.
Retail
NO.11
Building name:River Plaza Mall
Location:Calea lui Traian no.121, 240208 RamnicuValcea, Romania Source:www.construction21.com
Building type Category State Retail New Construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification B
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.24.R Technology name:Green technology systems Green Technology Water radiator, fan coil, centralized heating, centralized heating, water cooler, Natural Description ventilation, Double flow heat exchanger Green Technology Primary energy need:235,06 kWh PE/m2/year
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Quantification Primary energy need for standard building :272,98 kWh PE/m2/year
Code: E.25.R Technology name: self‐regulatingHVAC Green Technology 16 Double flow heat exchangersand heat renewable; Description fan coilswith 4 pipes; Point 3 heat exchangers – thermic provider CET Govora; 4 chillerswith water cooled condensers and four cooling towers Green Technology Heating: 112,41 kWh/m2/ year Quantification Climatization : 18,68 kWh/m2/ year Mechanical ventilation: 0,34 kWh/m2/ year Code: M.9.R Technology name: Vertical facades in aluminum profile systemSchuco FW50+ Green Technology The project of the shopping center was at the pioneer of itstime,by the technical solutions description used. Vertical facades were made in aluminum profile system Schüco FW50 +, known for its thermal and technical characteristics. For the dome were used steel profile Jansen Viss.
Commercial NO.12
Building name:Magazin ROMSTAL
Location:Strandului street, no.. 61A , 100189 Ploiesti, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Category State Commercial building New Construction Green certification Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other B
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.26.COM Technology name: Green technology systems
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Green Technology Gas boiler, Water radiator, Natural ventilation, Biogas boiler, Electric boiler Description
Green Technology Primary energy need:286,43 kWh PE/m2/year Quantification Primary energy need for standard building:285,50 kWh PE/m2/year Calculation method: Primary energy needs Final energy:170,87 kWh FE/m2/year Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating= 112.94 kWh/m2/year Hot water consumption = 1.93 kWh/m2/ year light Illumination = 56 kWh/m2 / year
3.2.1.2 Residential buildings
Semi‐detached house NO.13
Building name: Prispa House Romania
Location: Luncani village, Margineni County, Bacau, Romania. Source:www.construction21.com
Building type Semi‐detached house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.27.SDH Technology Name: Heating system Green Technology Heat pump Description VAV System
Code: E.28.SDH Technology name: Hot water system Green Technology Individual gas boiler; Description
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Code: E.29.SDH Technology name: Cooling system Green Technology Reversible heat pump. Description Code: E.30.SDH Technology name: Ventilation system Green Technology Natural ventilation Description Nocturnal ventilation Double flow heat exchanger Code: E.31.SDH Technology name: Renewable systems Green Technology Solar photovoltaic Description Solar Thermal Green Technology Renewable energy production : 80,00 %; Quantification Primary energy need: 65,75 kWh PE/m2/an; Primary energy need for standard building: 120,00 kWh PE/m2/an; Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating : 36.75 kWh/mp*an Hot water: 14.89 kWh/mp* an Air conditioning: 4.24kWh/mp* anVentilation:4.14kWh/mp* an Artificial lighting: 5.73 kWh/mp*an. Code: W.4.SDH Technology name: Grey/pluvial water management system. Green Technology Consumption from water network : 102,20 m3 / year Quantification Grey water recovered quantity: 250 l / day Code: M.10.SDH Technology name: Clay Green Technology Used as an interior wall finishing for its hygroscopic properties Description Code: M.11.SDH Technology name: Gypsum boards Green Technology Used to protect the structure from fire Description Code: M.12.SDH Technology name: Metal Green Technology Zinc roofing sheets and the metallic connectors used for joining the structural Description elements Code: M.13.SDH Technology name: Mineral wool Green Technology Used for thermal insulation Description Code: M.14.SDH Technology name:Triple‐glazed insulating glass Green Technology Insulating glass with high thermal resistance Description Green Technology Corrected thermal resistance of the walls varies between 4.47 si 5.37 m2*K/W Quantification resistance of the roof structure varies between 5.06 si 5.1 m2*K/W resistance is carpentry 0, 8 m2*K/W.
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Detached house NO.14
Building name: Casa Brânduşa
Location: Monumentului street, no.36, Piscu village, Ciolpani County,077050 Ilfov, Source:www.construction21.com Romania
Building type Detached rural house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification B Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.32.DH Technology Name: earthen thermic insulation
Green Technology Insulation in the attic of the earth Description
Green Technology Primary energy need: 157,00 kWh PE/m2/year Quantification Primary energy need for standard building: 170,00 kWh PE/m2/year Code: M.15.DH Technology Name: Use of local materials Green Technology Sun‐driedearthbrick Description Plaster of clay Materials Paint clay and lime
Green Technology Brick dimensions: height 14cm 20cmx40cm Quantification
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Multi‐family house NO.15
Building name:Nordia Residence
Location:Str. Eugen Brote 33‐41 , 13833 Bucuresti România
Source:www.construction21.com
Building type Category State Multi‐family house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.33.MFH Technology Name:Green technology systems Green technology Centralize gas heating system of low temperature, Centralized heating, HVAC self‐ description regulating, VRV System
Green technology Primary energy need: 88,54 kWh PE/m2/year 2 quantification Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating= 57.59kWh/m / year Hot water consumption = 18.25kWh/m2/year year Illumination = 12.7kWh/m2/ year
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NO.16
Building name: Green Vista Residence
Location:Sos. Pipera – Tunari, no. 198 C , 729951 Bucharest, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com
Building type Category State Multi‐family house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification B
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E.34.MFH Technology Name:Green technology systems Green technology Centralize gas heating system description Simple flux ventilation system
Green technology Primary energy need:181,86 kWh PE/m2/year 2 quantification Primary energy need for standard building:160,59 kWh PE/m /year Calculation method: Primary energy needs Final energy: 208,33 kWh FE/m2/year Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating= 83.00 kWh/m2 year Hot water consumption = 56.31 kWh/m2/ year Conditioning = 31.20 kWh/m2/ year Illumination = 9.52 kWh/m2/ year
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NO.17
Building name:EVOCASA ARMONIA,block A
Location:Aleea Ion Agarbiceanu, no. 3‐11, 3rd district, 32737 Bucharest, România
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Multi‐family house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E1 Technology Name: Green technology systems Green Technology Central gas, Heating system, Hot water system, Ventilation system description
Green Technology Primary energy need: 114,00 kWh PE/m2/an; Quantification Primary energy need for standard building: 118,00 kWh PE/m2/year; Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating : 46 kWh/m2*year Hot water: 59 kWh/mp* an Artificial lighting: 9 kWh/m2*year
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NO.18 Building name:Evocasa Selecta
Location: Bulevardul Ferdinand 58, 21393, Bucharest, Romania
Source:www.construction21.com Building type Multi‐family house New construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification A
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E1 Technology Name: Green technology systems Green Technology Heating system, Gas boiler, Hot water system, Ventilation system, Geotermal description pumps with shallow wells.
Green Technology Primary energy need: 102,00 kWh PE/m2/year Quantification Primary energy need for standard building: 111,00 kWh PE/m2/year Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating : 34 kWh/m2*year Hot water housekeeper: 59 kWh/m2*year Artificial lighting: 9 kWh/m2*year
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NO.19
Building name:Tamaioarei, Building A
Location: Str. Tamaioarei no. 15, 023641, Bucharest, România
Building type Category State Multi‐family house New Construction Green Energetic Class Leed Category BREEM Other certification B
Green technology Energy Water Materials Others classification
Code: E1 Technology name:Green technology systems Green Technology Gas boiler, Air source heat pump, Natural ventilation, compensated Air Handling Unit Description
Green Technology Primary energy need:126,90 kWh PE/m2/year Quantification Primary energy need for standard building:114,04 kWh PE/m2/year Calculation method: Primary energy needs Breakdown for energy consumption: Heating: 101.06 kWh/m2/ year Hot water : 14.50 kWh/m2/ year Lighting : 11.34 kWh/m2/ year
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3.2.2.SWOT analysis
In this section, the SWOT analysis was applied for residential and non‐residential buildings by taking in account the situation of building in Romania and the use of green technologies.
Non‐residential buildings
S W O T ‐Existence of regulations ‐low level of energetic ‐minimum requirement for ‐the actual blockage of for minimum performance for old energetic performance the “green house” requirements for new buildings applied for new and program and existing non‐ ‐no explicit minimum renovated buildings (EPBD residential buildings thermal resistance Directive) (global maximum values for building ‐The goal of nearly zero‐ reference G‐values) envelope (only a global energy consumption for ‐high rates for new maximum reference G‐ public owned or occupied constructions in the non‐ values). buildings is set by residential sector (1,5‐ 31.12.2018; the goal for 2,5% for overall non‐ new buildings is residential sector and a 31.12.2020 (EPBD rate of on average 5% Directive) from 2009 to 2011 for ‐eco‐label initiative for office buildings only office‐buildings ‐ the existent examples of new buildings equipped with green technologies (see as examples the factsheets no. 1‐11)
Residential buildings
S W O T ‐the high distribution rate ‐ the advanced age of ‐national multiannual ‐the actual blockage of of dwellings in block of building stock (only 10% program for the thermal the “green house” flats for urban area (72%), have under 10 years old) rehabilitation of the block program respectively in individual ‐the low level of of flats combined with the ‐the lack of application of dwelling for rural area energetic performance high number of this kind of green technologies (94,5%); this fact can be (around 180‐400 residential buildings useful for the application kWh/m2 for the buildings ‐the “First House” program of common measures built before 1990) which is accompanied by
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‐biomass is the main ‐low rates of new the requirements of high source of energy for 77% constructions in classes of EPC of single‐family dwellings residential sector ‐the possibility for distributed especially in (0,64%) application of green rural areas technologies and systems ‐district heating is (see as examples the dominant in urban multi‐ factsheets no.12‐18) family dwellings (53% of ‐the possibility of multi‐family dwellings) application of green technologies used in non‐ residential sector (see as examples the factsheets no.1‐11)
3.3. Solutions and recommendations Based on the information presented above, one can infer that the sector of green buildings in Romania become important, from year to year. In this order, a set of solutions and recommendations are proposed to support this sector at national level.
- Anyone who owns a building located in Romania must pay annually a building tax, excepting the cases where the law stipulates otherwise. Taking this into account, we recommend to be applied a reduction of this tax for green buildings, in order to encourage the construction of environmental friendly buildings. Also, can be offered a reward based on the degree of compliance with environmental standards so that the most performing green buildings to benefit of substantial reduction of the building taxes and for a longer period. - Also, another important recommendation is related to the improving of the legislative acts which must ensure the legal basis for buildings owners. The public access at basic information related to green building sector should be assured by different programs, by spots and by meetings organized by the specialized organizations. The awareness campaigns should be included in the middle and high school also - An important category of residential buildings in Romania (in terms of buildings number but also in terms of dwelling number and the floor area), is represented by detached single family houses. It is recommended to implement actions related to energetic efficiency especially to this building category - Continuation of the program for thermal rehabilitation of the blocks of flats in the urban multi‐family building, taking into account that the energetic performance can be improved by up to 25% - Resumption of the “Green House” program and also the implementation of similar programs that encourage the using of green technologies in both urban and rural areas - The using of best technology for green buildings and the public access to information
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- For the implementation of the components of “green building” concept it is recommended the sharing of the technology used at certified buildings. Some examples of technologies applied at different types of buildings can be seen in the factsheets - Also, we recommend that the local authorities or specialized companies help the building’s beneficiaries for the accessing of the available funds for the implementation of “green building” components - The assurance of appropriate trainings for architects, engineers, auditors, skilled workers, technicians is also recommended - The implementation of an national strategy that should involve especially the policy makers and the building’s owners - The implementation of pilot projects in vulnerable areas from the life quality point of view in order to support those areas - The assurance of public‐private partnership by providing support for research methods and technologies is also recommended for reduce energy consumption in new and renovated buildings
3.4. Conclusions
Energy efficiency is one of the most important targets settled by the European Commission through its specialized organization Directorate General for Energy. Energy efficiency is one of the most cost‐effective ways to ensure security of supply as well as reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. At European level, substantial steps has been taken to improve this sector, notably in the area of buildings. Improving the energy performance in buildings is an important key to achieve EU climate and energy targets. So, the “green building” concept and its components become more and more important, including its main components such as the energy efficiency, water efficiency and resource efficiency.
The energy consumption for space heating per m2 in Romanian presents one of the worse situation in EU for the period 2000‐2010. Compared with the EU‐27 mean the consumption in Romania is double. In the present report, the situation of buildings in Romania is presented by using official data from National Census and also by using different reports and publications about the buildings stock and its characteristics. Some of the best practices applied at green buildings in Romaniawere presented, the factsheets being completed with information about different types of buildings and about the green technologies used.
From the SWOT analysis can be concluded that one of the main problems related to application of green technologies in Romania is related to the advanced age of building stock (only 10% have less than 10 years old). In this case, is observed a low level of energetic performance for old buildings, for the residential sector being observed low rates of new constructions (0,64%). The energetic performance of the buildings built before 1990 has a low level of energetic performance (around 180‐400 kWh/m2).
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In the same time, the high distribution rate of dwellings in block of flats for urban area (72%), respectively in individual dwelling for rural area (94,5%),can be useful for the application of common energy efficiency measures.Also, at national level were observed high rates for new constructions in the non‐residential sector (1,5‐ 2,5% for overall non‐residential sector and a rate of on average 5% from 2009 to 2011 for office buildings only. Considering this, we can conclude that the green building sector in Romania presents an upward trend, but need a better implementation of legislative acts.The primary environmental problems in Romania are mostlyrelated to water and air pollution. The green building process incorporates environmental considerations into every stage of the building construction.
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