Socio-economic effects of house renovation in Lithuania: The case in Kaunas
Author
Zvirblyte, Justina
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2011
Submitted on
2011-07-09
Pages
92
Abstract
This thesis examines the potential of housing renovation to reduce heat and natural gas consumption in Kaunas, Lithuania, while delivering socio-economic benefits at city and national levels. The context is a high dependence on imported Russian natural gas, with over 90% of the city’s heat supplied by a single plant and a binding heat purchase contract through 2018. The study reviews the thermal energy sector, organizational and technical issues in older, unrenovated apartment blocks, tariffs, service models, and heat losses, as well as the current renovation efforts (including the Jessica program). It incorporates socio-economic indicators such as unemployment, wages and taxes, the national budget and trade balance, trends in heat consumption, and natural gas import volumes and costs. Methodologically, it presents a case study of a housing community’s renovation process in Kaunas and compares energy use and costs in renovated versus non-renovated buildings. A socio-economic scenario analysis estimates employment effects, energy savings, and potential contributions to the national budget and trade balance, supported by investment analyses at both national and resident levels. The thesis also identifies technological, institutional, and political barriers to implementation and offers recommendations. The excerpt does not report specific numerical results but indicates that scaled renovation could lower heat and gas use and improve socio-economic conditions.
Dette speciale undersøger potentialet for boligrenovering som en måde at reducere varme- og naturgasforbrug i Kaunas, Litauen, og samtidig skabe samfundsøkonomiske gevinster på by- og nationalt niveau. Baggrunden er en høj afhængighed af importeret russisk naturgas, hvor over 90% af byens varme produceres på ét kraftvarmeværk, samt en bindende varmeleveringskontrakt frem til 2018. Projektet beskriver varmesektorens status, organisatoriske og tekniske udfordringer i ældre, ikke-renoverede boligblokke, tariffer, serviceordninger og varmetab, samt den gældende renoveringsindsats (bl.a. programmet Jessica). Det inddrager socioøkonomiske indikatorer som arbejdsløshed, løn og skatter, budget og handelsbalance, udviklingen i varmeforbrug samt import og omkostninger for naturgas. Metodisk præsenteres et casestudie af en boligforenings renoveringsforløb i Kaunas og en sammenligning af energiforbrug og omkostninger i renoverede og ikke-renoverede bygninger. Der gennemføres en socioøkonomisk scenarieanalyse af beskæftigelseseffekter, energibesparelser og mulige bidrag til nationalt budget og handelsbalance, suppleret af investeringsanalyser på nationalt plan og for beboere. Endelig identificeres teknologiske, institutionelle og politiske barrierer for implementering, og der gives anbefalinger. Uddraget angiver ikke specifikke talresultater, men peger på, at udbredt renovering kan nedbringe varme- og gasforbrug og forbedre den socioøkonomiske situation.
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