By Danijela Pasic

Global economic crisis enforces the most developed world countries to provide energy by implementing numerous technological innovations; Serbia, however, begins to discover renewable power supplies and to stimulate energy savings. People in Serbia waste it as there`s plenty of it, anything regarding ecology and savings is never treated as top issue in national media, and a small number of those who have chosen to adjust their environment to the new critical circumstances are often marked as eccentrics. This is the reason why the data, recently announced by Energy Efficiency Agency`s deputy manager Bojan Kovacic, do not surprise at all - these facts prove that the conditions in our country are dramatic, because 56 percent of Serbian households participate in entire energy consumption.

Flats and houses in Serbia spend more energy than the industry and traffic. Moreover, 60 percent of the entire energy supplies in buildings is used for heating, and 70 percent of this thermal energy "flees through windows".

One of the problems are the electric devices, for more than  90 percent of them do not satisfy requirements for the lowest C class, and on the top of everything, Serbia is marked as a leader in electric energy consumption for water heating.

"Changing of our consumers` habits and their lifestyle is necessary," explains Kovacic, adding that the EU has gone so far that the Directive on energy marking of buildings has been implementing for awhile.

That is the reason why some buildings in Germany and Norway, alike household appliances, have been classified as A, B, or C energy category edifices. Buildings with the lowest energy consumption are marked as A category mansions, which significantly increases the price of apartments in them.

Serbian Energy Efficiency Agency took these good examples from developed countries into consideration, and decided to carry out the experiment in schools in Sremska Mitrovica and Coka. With little investments, they managed to transform the old schools into the A energy category buildings. Windows have been replaced with the new ones, and boilers have been substituted with the thermostatic vents. After many years, classrooms have become warm.

But what about residential objects? Kovacic believes that the calculations tell more than words - it takes 140 euros per square meter to replace a window, but it ensures 50 percent of energy savings. This investment becomes worthwhile for the next three or five years.

Thermoisolation of objects cost between 200 and 500 dinars per square meter, which enables from 30 to 65 percent of energy savings. The investment return is expected in the next four or seven years.

However, there is a solution for those who find this method to be costly - a simple isolation stripe needs 30 to 70 dinars per meter, bringing at least two degrees more in flats.

But the renewable energy supplies utilisation represents, according to Kovacic, the permanent solution to this problem.

Minister of Energy and Mining Petar Skundric agrees with Kovacic, adding that the entire renewable energy potential in Serbia equals oil consumption throughout one year.

"Serbia is rich in renewable energy supplies, and the greatest potential is biomass, an equivalent of 2,4 million tonnes of oil," said Skundric.

First energy permissions for using wind power and water have been issued in Serbia, and minister Skundric believes that wind power consumption and small hydroelectricities erections can be expected in the course of an upcoming year.

"I am convinced that serious investments regarding the entire energy sector, especially renewable energy sources, can be expected," said Minister Skundric.

Serbia is rich in small natural watercourses, which enables the erection of hydroelectricities that can produce ten megawatts, i.e. three percent of entire potential renewable energy sources.

An average solar radiation in Serbia is 40 percent higher then in other European countries and it submits 1.400 kilowatt hours a year per square meter. Energy emitted by the sun on one square meter per one year equals the energy received from 130 litre of oil combustion, and Serbian towns such are Nis, Kursumlija and Vranje have the highest potential in solar energy consumption.

Serbian Minister of Energy believes that solar energy, which would be used for water and spatial heating, can save at least one fifth of utilised electrical power in Serbia. Wind energy is Serbia`s additional privilege - our country has the potential to generate 2.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, i.e. seven percent of current production.

"There are several locations in Serbia considered to have the highest wind velocity, and they are Midzor, Suva Mountain, Vrsacki breg, Tupdzinica, Deli Jovan, and according to preliminary researches wind turbines could be erected in Negotin, Dolovo near Pancevo, Bela Crkva, Indjia, Kovin," said Skundric.

According to researches on wind potentials in Serbia, an average quantum of wind energy amounts from 900 to 2.700 kilowatt hours per square meter.

The highest potentials of this energy hide in the kosava wind areas and highland locations, but the wind potential can also be utilised in the areas by the river of Morava and Timok Craina.

It`s up to Serbia to decide whether this south-eastern wind will continue bothering us, or will it help us "fatten" our wallets and save electricity. But our government should not be the only one taking care of this problem. Just make sure you turn off the light when not needed, put isolation stripes on windows and replace old bulbs with another one - economical ones. Results will be obvious - your environmental conscience will be clear and electricity bills smaller.