ECO-Life Site Birštonas
Birstonas demo site was not implemented. The project found that it is not feasible to deeply refurbish social housing which is collectively owned by the inhabitants (energy bills are paid by the municipality therefore there is no incitement energy saving). If financing sources such as structural funds can be combined with other funds that together cover more than 50% of the costs, then it can be possible. As this was not the case, the original plans in the project with the demonstrations in Lithuania were canceled. A potential way forward could be that the municipality buys the buildings for refurbishment and rents them out in a sell-and-lease–back-model. This said, municipalities must be frontrunners and have access to capital.
The project involves an area of 35 ha, which has been designated the new recreational part of the city. The area already includes around 25,500 m² of living space within 13 multi-flat buildings (wall construction from bricks). Currently, these buildings, which were constructed from 1967-1979, have a low standard and poor energy-efficiency performance. The ECO-Life project will allow the planned renovation of the residential area to be carried out at a high energy standard.
Additionally, the project involves three non-residential buildings: an office building, a school of art and a health care centre. Similar to the residential buildings, the non-residential ones have poor thermal insulation and large heat losses. This will be improved by refurbishment and modernisation measures of the buildings.
Currently heating to the community buildings is supplied by two types of fuels: natural gas and biomass (wood waste). Additional the installation of a 2 MW heat generation plantbased on bio fuel has been planned. This will make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and encourage the use of local, renewable fuel resources.
Having the majority of the heat produced by burning biomass, additionally, a flue gas condensation unit will be installed at a later stage in order to improve energy generation efficiency. In the buildings, solar collectors and heat pumps will be installed to cover the energy needed for DHW.;
- Estimated population involved: 900
- Approx. geographical area coverage: 35 ha
- Approx. energy saving: 70%
- Approximate energy from RES: 90%