Energy-related policy in the housing sector of Bulgaria: in search for a meeting point of social and technical dimensions

Abstract

Understanding the way in which a policy framework put into action supports or hampers stakeholders’ energy-related action in the field of housing renovation could provide meaningful insight on needed respect for stakeholders’ needs, expectations, motivations and capacity for action. The paper presents a study undertaken on the case of Bulgaria as part of ongoing ECHOES research project (EU-funded under the Horizon 2020 Program). It discusses the complex challenges faced in linking policy and technical to social and cultural considerations in renovating the existing residential stock in Bulgaria while meeting energy-efficiency requirements with an explicit focus on predominant apartment buildings in multiple ownership. The refurbishment process requires, on one hand, considerable investment, which is in most cases hardly accessible for the homeowners; on the other hand, collective decision-making with numerous stakeholders involved, often with diverse social and economic status. The presented two national case studies illustrate two alternative approaches applied – one searching to benefit from the national energy market peculiarities, and the other taking the opportunities provided by European and national grant schemes introduced in the country. Based on contacts and semi-structured interviews with various actors involved in the two initiatives, the dynamics of the situation throughout the projects’ life cycle sand and in the longer term and the changing personal estimations of costs and benefits are analysed. Conclusions are drawn about the importance of continuity in implemented energy-related policies. The authors claim that specific paths to EU energy policy goals under varying economic, technical and sociocultural context should be well continually informed by comprehensive interdisciplinary research.