Overview on heating systems energy efficiency in industrial and residential buildings from Romania

Romania's energy intensity is among the highest in the Central Europe and is about five to ten times higher than in UK, France, Germany or United States. Inefficient energy utilization exists in all sectors of the economy, notably in the industrial and residential sectors, which accounts for over 80% of energy consumption. In large part, such high intensity in Romania is due to aging equipments of antiquated technologies. So, energy efficiency measures have concentrated on the industrial and residential sectors, where there is the clearest scope for improvements. Private enterprises as well as restructured and/or privatized state enterprises are actively exploring cost reduction and efficiency improvement strategies as a consequence of steep increases in energy prices (gas, electricity and district heat) and with a view to improving competitiveness through energy efficient technologies. However, actual investments in energy efficiency are low. This is, in large part, due to the absence of appropriate funding mechanisms, coupled with a lack of expertise in identifying and developing commercially viable projects. The study will plead for cogeneration systems in the spirit of Directive 2004/8 EC and for radiant heating systems for industrial sector. Finally, the study will present some results if these types of systems are utilized in Romania.