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Riga, Latvia – Innovative financing takes pilot to programme
| “Ozolciema iela 46/3” in Riga is a typical
circa 1990 CEE high-rise comprising 9 storeys and built of lightweight
single layer prefabricated concrete panels. In 1999 the Senate for
Urban Development in Berlin and The Latvian Ministry for Environment
and Urban Development in Riga agreed to refurbish the building as
an energy efficiency pilot for high-rise buildings. Managed by IWO
(Initiative Wohnungswirtschaft Osteuropa – Housing Initiative
for Eastern Europe), this pilot led to an ongoing refurbishment programme
across Latvia. Improvements to the building included insulation to
the façade, roof and basement ceiling. New windows were added
and the heating system was completely overhauled, including new pipe
work and the installation of regulating and monitoring equipment.
These improvements were achieved without having to decant the building’s
residents. Completed in 2001 and as a result of the improvements,
residents’ heating bills were approximately halved while comfort
improved markedly. Approximately 53% or 50,000m3 of gas per year is
being saved. Due to these results, the pilot was to become the springboard
launching a Latvian programme demonstrating the financial feasibility
of energy efficient high-rise refurbishment (phase two, 2003-2005)
and finally leading to a self-supporting Latvian housing revitalisation
programme (phase three, 2005+). |
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