Areas, where Călărași town needs improvements in public lighting, are subject to an energy audit. The works take place within the project implemented with the EU support "Efficient public lighting in Calarasi-Firefly in the heart of forests” and aim at analyzing the situation of the existing public lighting system and identifying the areas that need expansion and modernization. Based on this assessment, energy efficiency solutions will be proposed.

The energy audit for the street lighting system represents a premiered for the town. In this respect, on 3 August, a meeting was organized at the Calarasi Town Hall to discuss the current situation of the public lighting system with a length of 48 km, the streets to be connected and the technical requirements imposed on the lighting fixtures.

According to Călărași Two Hall, two companies participated in the tender for the energy audit, and "Eco Evolutions" SRL was named the winner, presenting the most advantageous offer. "Eco Evolutions" was created in 2011 as one of the first companies to bring LED technology to European standards in the Republic of Moldova. The company is the direct importer with distribution rights of more than 500 models of indoor and outdoor LED lighting fixtures in the Republic of Moldova, it is shown on the official website of the company.

"We decided to carry out this energy audit in order to know precisely the current situation of the public lighting system and to understand how to successfully implement the public lighting works within the project," said Călărași Mayor, Nicolae Melnic.

According to the energy expert of IDIS “Viitorul”, Ion Muntean, 500 street light bulbs will be replaced and the energy efficiency project will ensure a real economy of 6500 euro/year, will allow the reduction of CO2 emissions and the cost of maintenance and operation. Currently, the electric lines in Călăraşi are more than 60 years old, and for this reason, they are very often damaged and the town remains in darkness.

According to the national legislation on energy efficiency, the energy audit is mandatory for all energy efficiency projects financed or co-financed from public money. The energy audit is needed to identify the most efficient energy saving measures and to appreciate the investment costs.

The final energy audit report and the technical implementation project for the modernization and energy efficiency measures of the public lighting system in Călărași will be ready in September of this year.

The project "Efficient public lighting in Calarasi-Firefly in the heart of forests” is implemented by the Călărași Town Council, the partnership with IDIS "Viitorul" and has a period of 30 months. The project is funded by the European Union through the EU Covenant of Mayors - Demonstration Project (CoM-DeP) program. The energy efficiency project in Calarasi includes the installation of a 21-kilometer lighting network and the architectural lighting of two public buildings. As a result, the project will provide a real economy of € 6,500 per year, reduce CO2 emissions and maintenance and operating costs.

The project "Efficient public lighting in Calarasi-Firefly in the heart of forests", implemented by the Calarasi Town Hall in partnership with IDIS "Viitorul". The project is funded by the European Union through the European programme “Covenant of Mayors – Demonstration Projects (CoM-DeP)”,  part of the EU4Energy initiative.

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For more information, please contact the Press Officer of the project, Ana - Maria Veverita: ana.veverita@viitorul.org or by phone (0 22) 221844.

The EU4Energy Initiative covers all EU support to improve energy supply, security and connectivity, as well as to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewables in the Eastern Partner countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. It does this by financing projects and programmes that help to reform energy markets and to reduce national energy dependence and consumption. Over the longer term, this makes energy supply more reliable, transparent and affordable, thus reducing energy poverty and energy bills for both citizens and the private sector. More information: www.EU4Energy.eu