Heat insulation of multi-apartment houses in Latvia: future problems in the regions
2016
Ancans, S., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia). Faculty of Economics and Social Development
In 2009, the heat insulation of multi-apartment houses was initiated in Latvia using financial assistance of the European Regional Development Fund. In the future, problems will emerge with heat-uninsulated houses being partially uninhabited, as the population prefers living in heat-insulated houses and the population is likely to decrease not only in rural but also urban areas, while heating for heat-insulated houses is considerably cheaper and the lifetime of such houses after their heat-insulation (renovation) increases. Therefore, the research aim of the paper is to examine the socio-economic problems to be caused by heat-uninsulated multi-apartment houses in Latvia’s regions in the future. The research found that heat-insulated houses had an implicit heating discount at the expense of heat uninsulated houses, and the paper developed a methodology for calculating implicit discounts. In a long-term, it will contribute to their occupancy and consequently the degradation of heat-uninsulated houses. This might affect Latgale region the most, followed by Vidzeme region, while such a problem is the least specific to Pieriga region. Among cities, this problem will be the most specific to Daugavpils, followed by Rezekne; a relatively better situation might be expected in Jelgava and Jurmala.
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