Sofia Municipality Bulgaria - 1 200 000 inhabitants
Presentation of the organisation:
Sofia is the capital and the largest city in Bulgaria being one of the oldest European Cities. It has 1.2 million inhabitants and occupies an area of 1311 sq. km. The city has a dominant position in Bulgaria’s political, economic and cultural life.
Sofia is in many ways one of the main engines of growth for the national economy. It has a higher per capita income than the rest of the country, and contributes close to 20 percent to the national GDP.
SOFIA CITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY prepared with the help of the World Bank includes:
Objective 1: Generate Sustainable Economic Growth
Objective 2: Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Local Government
Objective 3: Enhance the Quality and the Efficiency of the spatial Structure
Based on the above objectives the development of new City Master Plan was finished this year.
One of the basic problems is related to the high-energy consumption for heating purposes both in municipal buildings and in dwellings (more than 200 kWh per sq. meter annually). This results in excessive energy expenses and high CO2 emissions.
A rough estimation shows that the annual expenses for the energy needs of some 400 municipal buildings are about 6 to 8% from the Sofia municipality budget. The reduction of these expenses can be accomplished by implementing energy efficiency and energy saving measures and will lead to considerable savings for the municipal budget.
In reference to the City Master Plan Sofia municipality entrusted Sofia Energy Agency - SOFENA to develop a concept for a project for developing a sustainable district. The project comprises an area of 450 000 m2, 1/3 of the territory belongs to the Union of Blind people in Bulgaria and some residential and utility buildings exist, for the rest detailed plan will be developed including new buildings, infrastructure and energy supply. The main targets of the project is creating a sustainable community with more than 1500 peoples living there, low energy consumption, better standard of live and integration of disabled people and use of renewable energy sources.
Actions implemented in the field of building performance:
- Energy audits and retrofitting of about 350 Municipality buildings were performed 2002-2004.
-During 2003-2004 all heating substantions in the buildings with District heating were replaced with new, energy efficient ones. Termovalves and allocators were installed in all radiators in the DH residential buldings.
-A state campain started in 2005 to stimulate and financialy support residents to make complete renovation of there apartment buildings.
- According to the new building efficiency regulations, for all new buildings it is compulsory to have insulated envelopes, new types PVC or alluminium windows and highly energy efficient heating systems.
Is collective membership possible ? 
