The Epeka Association has become  the coordinator of the Eco Fund within the public call for Non-Refundable Financial Incentives for the Reduction of Energy Poverty.

We are proud to be able to help the most materially vulnerable residents of Slovenia with the energy renovation of their homes. As coordinators, we assist applicants in the preparation of documentation and the management of the process. For more information, we are available at ekosklad@epeka.si.

The Eco Fund provides recipients of financial social assistance and/or protection allowance who live in a multi-dwelling building  with 100% incentives for their share of the cost of the total investment  for the implementation of joint measures in the energy renovation of multi-dwelling buildings or the renovation of common boiler rooms.The funding is provided by the European Union.

With the Eco Fund grant, energy-poor households can carry out the following:

  • thermal insulation of the roof
  • thermal insulation of the façade
  • Replacing windows
  • other energy-saving solutions.

In the EPEKA Association, so.p. We joined the cooperation with the Eco Fund because we believe that the green transition must be accessible to everyone – including those who encounter it in their daily lives, mainly through high payment fees, poor living conditions and lack of information.

Energy poverty is not just a question of energy consumption. It is a question of dignity, health, social security and equal opportunities. Many individuals, in particular low-income pensioners, socially disadvantaged households, the unemployed, members of minority communities and other vulnerable individuals, often live in situations where the cost of heating, electricity or basic energy renovation is too burdensome. At the same time, many of them do not know what incentives they are entitled to, how to submit an application or where to seek help.

For many years, our work has been based on supporting people who are often far from institutions, information and opportunities. We work with the Roma community, young people with fewer opportunities, the long-term unemployed, the elderly, people in social distress and other groups who need more than just general information. They need an interlocutor, trust, explanation, help with the first step and accompaniment through the process.

During this time, we have already helped low-income pensioners who would otherwise have had a hard time accessing information on their own or arranging the necessary procedures. In the future, we want to expand our activities to minority communities, where the barriers are often multifaceted: from poorer access to information, language and administrative barriers, to distrust in institutions and lack of support in arranging documentation.

EPEKA joined the Eco Fund network because energy poverty is not only an environmental or housing issue, but also a social issue. Low-income people, especially the elderly, pensioners, members of minority communities, the unemployed and socially excluded individuals, often live in poorer living conditions, pay excessive energy costs and lack sufficient information or support to benefit from existing assistance opportunities. Therefore, it is the job of the coordinator to act as a bridge between the system and people.

The green transition will only be fair if it also includes those who are most vulnerable. That is why we want to connect environmental measures, social justice and concrete help to people in the local environment with our work. However, the benefits are not limited to the individual or household receiving the support. When the living conditions of a socially weaker individual improve, when a dilapidated house is renovated, energy consumption is reduced and the surroundings are tidied up, the wider community also benefits. The neighborhood gains, neighbors gain, the place acquires. Even a neighbor who lives next door to a house in a very poor condition directly benefits from the fact that his socially weaker neighbor improves the appearance and quality of his home with the help of accessible measures. Such support is therefore not only about helping one household, but about contributing to a better, more tidy, healthy and connected local environment for everyone. With the aim of better planning and addressing energy poverty, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted  the Regulation on the criteria for defining and assessing the number of energy-poor households. The regulation defines “energy poverty as a condition in which a household whose income is below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold and is unable to meet its basic energy needs due to inadequate living conditions or the inability to meet these needs at affordable prices or low energy efficiency of living spaces”.

Objectives of the public call:

  • increase the energy efficiency of buildings,
  • increase the use of renewable energy sources,
  • to improve the living conditions, health status and social status of all members of the household,
  • contribute to the reduction of air pollution and thereby improve ambient air quality, and
  • to raise awareness among citizens of the importance of energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energy sources.

The incentive covers the value of the renovation in full, but not more than €18,000 excluding VAT.

Presentation of the call:

Call documentation.

Dokumentacija poziva.