Energy passports are an important document on the path to energy efficiency, especially in view of the Euro-integration process which requires the implementation of European standards of electrical energy efficiency.

The Chairperson of the Serbian Parliamentary Energy Policy Forum Prof. Dr Aleksandra Tomic said that it is Serbia’s duty to reduce the usage of electrical energy because that would lead to budget savings. Tomic also believes that this is also the duty of every individual user.

“Don’t wait for the price of electricity to go up to replace your light bulbs with energy saving LED ones. When selecting electrical appliances, check whether they are economical in the use of energy and, of course, teach your children early on about the importance of energy saving”, said Tomic.

Renate Schindlbeck, leader of GIZ project Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector, said that obtaining an energy passport is the first step toward discovering critical spots in a building and a study on how to fix them and contribute to energy efficiency, which would in turn contribute to environmental protection.

GIZ provides support to Serbian institutions in the launching and implementation of a national energy efficiency programme in the building sector, improvement of cooperation between the public and private sector and issuance of energy passports. On the other hand, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Mining and Energy have set the legal framework for it by passing relevant laws and rulebooks. The Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, also played an important role in the project by completing the National Typology of Residential Buildings in Serbia within EU project TABULA.

During the official handover of energy passports the assembly was addressed by Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Alexander Jung, State Secretary at the Ministry of Mining and Energy Mirjana Filipovic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Dejan Trifunovic and professor of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, Dr Milica Jovanovic Petrovic.

The energy passports were officially handed over by the Chairperson of the Serbian Parliamentary Energy Policy Forum Prof. Dr Aleksandra Tomic. On the behalf of the National Assembly, the passport was accepted by Deputy Secretary General Branko Marinkovic, and on the behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Palace of Serbia by the Government’s Deputy Secretary General Tamara Stojcevic.

The official handover was preceded by an exhibition on Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector.

Click here to watch the speeches and handover of energy passports.