Tue, Feb 09 2010

More regional development aid to boost energy efficiency in urban construction

Mon, Mar 16 2009 11:54 CET 1272 Views
More regional development aid to boost energy efficiency in urban construction

Amendments are set to be complete and enacted in the European Fund for Regional Development in May 2009.  Those  changes will establish the corrections in the Regional Development operational programme, which will in turn increase funds designated for it accordingly.

"In light of the deteriorating economic crisis, the European Commission along with promised support and assistance from all members states is conducting a series of meetings to deliberate how to support member states' beleaguered economies through the structural assistance funds, the Cohesion Fund and the rural areas development and assistance fund," said Iskra Mihailova, deputy minister of regional development, at a meeting during the international building exhibition, Bulgarian Building Week 2009, as reported by Stroitelstvo Gradut.

One major proposals is to increase energy efficiency in urban environment areas through overhauling developmental regulations regarding public and residential buildings' construction –  construction process which would be applied to administrative, office and public buildings, as well as single family homes and planned unit development complexes, or PUDs and apartments estates.

The allocation of the funding released to member states and Bulgaria as well from the European Fund of Regional Development  will be conducted according to the established criteria  – a state's economic growth and population size.

Furthermore, in March 2009, a scheme will be launched towards reconstructing and renovating universities and higher educational centres across the country under the measure designated as 1.1 of  Social Infrstructure, as a main priority of  urban development.

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