December 24 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union will invest 16 million euro ($18.14 million) to support Belgrade's efforts to improve its public buildings' energy efficiency, the EBRD said.
Belgrade will use the financial package, consisting of a 5 million euro EBRD loan and an 11 million euro grant from the EU, to introduce energy saving technologies at its main library, an institute of emergency medicine, a student healthcare centre, and a student hospital, the EBRD said in a statement on Thursday.
The resources will be used to enhance the buildings' thermal insulation, upgrade their heating, ventilation and cooling systems, and introduce energy efficient lighting.
The investment is part of Belgrade’s engagement in the EBRD Green Cities programme, which supports cities’ efforts to invest in green and sustainable infrastructure and address key environmental challenges, the bank said. Belgrade joined the programme in 2019 and adopted a Green City Action Plan earlier this year.
"Buildings are one of the biggest consumers of energy, and improving their efficiency is one of the key ways to reduce energy bills and carbon footprint, while contributing to better air quality and generating business opportunities in the green economy," Matteo Colangeli, EBRD director for the Western Balkans and head of Serbia, said.
The EBRD has, so far, invested more than 6.9 billion euro across 296 projects in the country to date. The investment is a part of the bank's Green Cities programme, which Belgrade joined in 2019.