Opportunities for change sometimes arise only in times of crisis. Climate change is a crisis that has forced us to finally alter our poor energy habits and raise the level of energy literacy. Energy transition, as a pillar of climate policy, has become important not only for large organizations and systems but also for households and entrepreneurs.
Flash floods and heat waves are now increasingly associated by the public with the direct costs of energy wastefulness, dependence on fossil fuels, and energy poverty—such as the health costs of air pollution, rising bills for electricity and other energy sources. Understandably, citizens are becoming more interested in replacing windows and joinery in residential buildings, acquiring modern, cleaner, and more efficient heating and cooling devices, and producing their own energy from renewable sources for personal use.
However, unlike large companies that have the resources to acquire the necessary knowledge about new technologies and the profitability of investments, many citizens and small entrepreneurs lack the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions. Public subsidy programs, jointly implemented for several years by the Government of the Republic of Serbia and local self-governments, often assume that recipients already possess the technological and other necessary knowledge, which many still need to acquire.
News of open public calls for subsidies often reaches rural households too slowly. Frequently, citizens who need the most assistance do not have the financial means required for their contribution toward the costs of replacing devices or joinery. Many live in buildings that do not meet the required eligibility criteria of these programs.
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Citizens and entrepreneurs with the financial capacity and desire to invest in solar energy often make mistakes by oversizing their solar power plants, which results in profitability being lower than expected.
Some municipalities and cities in Serbia have recognized that their citizens and entrepreneurs need a place for learning and obtaining information—a place of understanding and support—so they can make correct and informed decisions on their own. At the end of last year, Užice, Knjaževac, and Bačka Palanka opened their Energy Advisory Centers, offering answers to citizens’ questions all in one place. These advisory centers do not sell devices or issue bills; instead, they help people understand what and when it is worth investing in, and how to get involved.
Energy Advisory Centers serve as a mechanism for connecting public policy with the everyday lives of citizens. Their role includes providing information, interpreting relevant regulations and guidelines, directing users toward available solutions, and offering professional support. Given the complexity of their goals, these centers operate in cooperation with state administration institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Particularly important is the involvement of local actors who possess relevant knowledge and experience in energy efficiency and sustainable development.
For example, the recent opening of the Knjaževac Energy Advisory Center was an opportunity to invite companies that market products and services for improving energy efficiency to present their technical solutions, products, and services to interested citizens and entrepreneurs in the center’s premises—located in the Directorate for Development, Urban Planning, and Construction of the Municipality of Knjaževac.
GIZ
