To reduce costs owners of dwellings in Latvia plan to reduce energy consumption this year. They also consider making their home more energy efficient. At the same time more than one-third or 36% of residents in Latvia admit having no way to reduce energy consumption and costs, as concluded in a survey carried out by SEB Bank.
A little more than one-third or 34% of respondents plan to reduce energy consumption by installing LED lighting and use electricity during hours when it is the cheapest. Every tenth resident has plans to stop using gas for indoor and water heating in favour of other alternatives.
Approximately 8% of respondents mentioned having plans for renovation at their home to increase energy efficiency. 6% mentioned having plans to replace their heating system in favour of radiators that allow for changing apartment temperature to pay for actually consumed heat.
According to SEB Bank Private Finances Centre Māris Opincāns, renovation of apartment homes can help save money during the heating season, extend the lifespan of buildings and improve the visual look.
The survey also indicates that 80% of private home owners have plans to improve the energy efficiency.
Approximately 32% of respondents are making preparations to modernize the heating system, others have plans to renovate homes, and 30% – plan to start using renewable energy (solar panels, wind turbines). 26% of interviewed private home owners plan to replace electrical households appliances with ones of a higher energy efficiency level.
20% of private home owners have no plans to do anything to improve their dwelling’s energy efficiency, reduce costs and make it more sustainable.
Only 4% of residents already live in houses that already use renewable energy resources.
57% of residents, according to SEB Bank’s survey, admit having no idea if their home is energy efficient. Every tenth respondent knows his or her home’s energy efficiency level. Only 5% of respondents say they live in a house with a high energy efficiency level.
Additionally, nearly one-third of respondents are confident their home is not energy efficient because it is old and not renovated.
The survey was organised by Norstat following a request from SEB Bank this spring. 1 003 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74 participated in it.
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