ROMEPS: Necesary funds of two billion euro for the thermal rehabilitation

If in 2008 the estimated total investments required for the thermal rehabilitation of all apartment buildings in Romania was about 6 billion euro, this amount was reduced to one third or about two billion euro in mid 2015. In this context, representatives of Romanian Association of Expanded Polystyrene Manufacturers (ROMEPS) consider that in the absence of thermal rehabilitation of blocks falling in energy classes C and D, energy consumption and related costs represent a great loss for the population. The organization was founded in 2004, but is working with that name since 2011. The association promotes a higher standard of quality for producers of EPS and shall ensure compliance. ROMEPS has 13 members, of which four founders (Arcon, Austrotherm, Hirsch Porozell, Swisspor), seven associated companies (Congips, Firos, Masterplast, Mindo, Onebrand, Euroconf Impex, Mecatronics) and two other members of honor - Plastics Europe and Isopor. An analysis of the evolution of Romanian EPS market for the first six months of 2015 will be available in early autumn. However, it can be said that the situation is similar to 2014, without a significant advance, and atypical monthly fluctuations due to the sharp rise in commodity prices. The thermal insulation products market is strongly influenced by specific legislation, the timing and number of operations undertaken by the authorities. The agreement for the european funding in 2014-2020 was signed in July 2015, and we'll see how the beneficiaries are mobilizing to fit in funding. Currently, ROMEPS can only organize information and education events on topics related to shared European standards for this type of work, and training with regard to product quality issues. The local market for EPS is valued at about 100 million euro annually, 90% of demand being represented by the construction sector and 10% of EPS packaging market.