Transforming the built environment is an essential piece in Romania’s energy transition, and the Efficient Romania 2025 Forum, held in Bucharest on 26 May, reaffirmed this certainty to an audience of experts, opinion leaders and government representatives. This year’s edition focussed on the equity of the green transition, at a key moment for European building policies and for the implementation of the future ETS 2 mechanism.

“ETS 2 will change the rules of the game. It is essential that we understand the implications and prepare ahead of time for the transformations that will follow,” warned Radu Dudău, chairman of the Energy Policy Group (EPG) and coordinator of the Efficient Romania programme. ETS 2 – the extended Emissions Trading Scheme – will bring additional costs for buildings, transport and small industries, accelerating the pressure for decarbonisation and energy efficiency.

From the private sector perspective, Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom, welcomed the role of the Forum as a platform for dialogue and for pooling solutions: “Only by debating the key issues can we accelerate the efficiency and decarbonisation of buildings at the pace needed to achieve climate goals”.

The central idea of the Forum – collaboration between different actors – was illustrated by the message delivered by Costin Postoiu, Head of Data Analytics at EPG: “Only through well thought-out solutions, correctly applied and with care for the vulnerable can we build an efficient and equitable future”. He stressed the need for a coherent approach that does not sacrifice equity in favour of speed of implementation.

In the same vein, Eugen Pănescu, architect and Romania’s representative in the Architects’ Council of Europe, called for a clear accountability of all actors involved: from authorities and funders to professionals and building users. “All actors involved need to recognise and assume their role – from the authorities who provide the legislative framework and funding, to the professionals who provide technical solutions, to the building users who can contribute on a daily basis to reducing energy waste,” he said.

In addition to the legislative framework and the role of institutional actors, the Forum raised public perceptions of the direct benefits of efficient buildings. “It all starts from a simple question: do we really understand the benefits? The answer will make the difference between stagnation and progress,” said Horia Petran, President of Cluster-PRO nZEB. According to him, zero-emission buildings (ZEBs) bring real benefits: increased comfort, improved health and substantial long-term savings.

Eliza Barnea, Just Transition Campaign Coordinator at Bankwatch Romania, emphasised the human component of the transformation: “People are at the heart of the energy transition. Informed, involved and listened to, they can turn projects into reality. Constant communication, from grassroots to national level, is the key to real collaboration between authorities and communities”.

In terms of funding, although Romania benefits from substantial EU funds, the degree of effective utilisation remains limited. “The challenge is to use the available resources to their full potential,” said Mihai Moia, executive director of ROENEF. Extensive renovations, which have significant structural and energy impacts, are still the exception rather than the rule.

Cătălin Lungu, President of OAER, completed the picture: “Public-private partnership is the key to sustainable transformation. The Efficient Romania programme demonstrates what can be achieved through the involvement of private capital: schools renovated to nZEB standards, better conditions for students and teachers, more energy-efficient communities”.

An innovative approach was proposed by Tobiasz Adamczewski, Vice President of the Polish Energy Forum, who suggested a mechanism for reinvesting decarbonisation revenues in similar projects. “Reinvesting decarbonisation revenues in decarbonisation projects could ensure partial self-financing of the transition. It is an idea with major potential,” he said, opening up a new line of reflection for national policies.

The Efficient Romania 2025 Forum succeeded in reconfirming the need for a coordinated, sustained and intelligent effort channelled towards modernising the built environment.

The full recording of the event is available in English at: https://www.romania-eficienta.ro/romania-eficienta-forum-2025.