The Association of Education, Culture and Innovative Projects (IKIPA) invites to apply for the support programme of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MoEPRD) and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) for the replacement of wood combustion plants used for heating in urban areas. The total available EU funding for the implementation of the projects amounts to €12.44 million.
Biomass - wood or firewood and various wood fuel products such as pellets, briquettes - is still the most widely used fuel for heat production in Latvia. In addition, the MoEPRD's Air Pollution Action Plan 2021-2030 notes that data from 2014 already shows that households account for more than half of PM10 pollution. Therefore, experts remind that special attention should be paid to the efficient use of these fuels - to generate as much energy as possible and to minimise the impact on the environment and health.
Edgars Vīgants, Associate Professor and Lead Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Protection and Heat Systems, Faculty of Energy Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Riga Technical University, explains, "Several hundred complex biochemical reactions occur when biomass is burned. Fine particles are produced if the combustion process in the stove or boiler is incorrect or poorly controlled (inadequate oxygen content, low combustion temperature) - if the combustion reaction does not proceed to completion."
Poor-quality and inefficient stoves, cookers and heating equipment also cause pollution - fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 are one of the main types of air pollution in Latvia. These are microscopic dust particles, invisible to the human eye, which enter the air and affect the respiratory tract, lungs and cardiovascular system. This is particularly acute in densely populated cities such as Rezekne, Liepaja and Riga, where pollution levels are approaching or already exceeding the regulatory limits.
Normunds Kadiķis, Head of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Inspectorate, reminds that it is important to choose equipment that is environmentally and health friendly because air quality has been considered a major health issue for years. "The European Environment Agency estimates that around 400 000 premature deaths in the European region each year are due to poor air quality. And fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 are a major contributing factor. European Union (EU) directives currently set limits that are softer than World Health Organisation guidelines, and the EU is reviewing them - requirements will be stricter in the future. In addition, it should be borne in mind that 'letting in' will become an increasingly costly process, as new and sophisticated technologies will need to be invested in."
Aneka Kļaviņa, Assistant Professor at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Riga Stradiņš University, urges people to pay attention to indoor microclimate conditions - a set of physical, chemical and microbiological factors that characterise indoor air. Indoor environmental conditions can contribute to poor well-being, fatigue, loss of concentration, drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, dry skin, mucous membrane irritation, stuffy nose, dry throat, dry cough, dry and red eyes, watery eyes, allergic rashes, breathing difficulties, colds, etc.
When is it time to change the heating appliance? When it starts to perform poorly - leaking heat, smoke. More modern appliances have sensors that help stop them when they need maintenance or a problem is detected. It should also be noted that economic conditions are currently motivating the change of appliances - fuel prices are rising and many people are considering changing fuel types. Experts stress that this often has more impact than changing lifestyles and habits, and concerns about reducing air pollution.
The second call for 85% EU funding for the purchase and installation of heat pumps (as a basic heating solution) is closing this week. This is one of four funding rounds to reduce air pollution and the negative impacts of heating installations in Latvia.
Madara Austriņa, Head of the Environment and Digitalisation Project Selection Unit at the CFLA Project Selection Department, points out that the CFLA programme is aimed specifically at urban residents, with the aim of reducing air pollution by replacing inefficient wood heating equipment. "There are four calls in total, and the last week of project submissions for the purchase of heat pumps is currently underway. The call for the installation of pellet boilers will follow immediately afterwards, with the last one in spring 2024, where it will be possible to buy one of the above solutions, connect to the district heating of the cities or install air-to-air heat pumps, which are not supported in the second call. There is still time to apply."
The support programme is open to urban residents living in private houses, terraced and semi-detached houses, small apartment buildings (indicatively up to 12 apartments), where heating has been provided with wood biomass (firewood, briquettes, pellets, wood chips), in apartment buildings coal or peat is also allowed. It is also important to note that the building must have been in use - occupied for at least the last 3 years, have a useful floor area of more than 50 m2 and have been in use for at least 7 years. In addition, the energy efficiency class of the building must not be lower than E, which is one of the lowest classes, and the thermal output must not exceed 50 kW. For more information on the programme and its conditions, visit https://www.cfla.gov.lv/lv/2236-gaisa-piesarnojumu-mazinosu-pasakumu-istenosana-uzlabojot-majsaimniecibu-siltumapgades-sistemas, www.cfla.gov.lv, email silti@cfla.gov.lv or call the advice line 24002700.
The following participants took part in the discussion " Pareizi lietotas apkures iekārtas un atbalsts novecojušu iekārtu maiņai":
Madara Austriņa, Head of the Project Selection Unit of the Environment and Digitisation Project Selection Department of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency;
Edgars Vīgants, Associate Professor and Senior Researcher, Institute of Environmental Protection and Heat Systems, Faculty of Energy Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Riga Technical University;
Normunds Kadiķis, Head of the Environmental Health Division of the Health Inspectorate;
Aneka Kļaviņa, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Riga Stradiņš University.
The recording is available on the Facebook page “Mana vide”: https://fb.me/e/7Rn0JzRnh.
The information campaign "Mana māja. Mana vide" is implemented with the financial support of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund (LVAF) and provides residents with information on the proper operation of individual heating equipment, good fuel combustion practices, the impact of different fuels on health and the environment. The aim of the activities is to promote a change in the behaviour and habits of the population through the purchase of new equipment and the maintenance of existing equipment, contributing in the long term to the reduction of emissions from household heating installations in urban areas.
