Energy efficiency of soviet-era residential buildings in Republic of Moldova

Abstract

One of the major problems with the energy of the Republic of Moldova is represented by the Soviet-Era apartament blocks built between 1950 and 1990. These buildings were designed to quickly provide citizens with affordable housing and were constructed from prefabricated blocks assembled on-site using tower crane. The prefabricated blocks were designed for quick installation, with no focus on their energy efficiency. The insulating material used at the time was crushed expanded clay, witch was mixed into the concrete used for production of the prefabricated panels. The respective solutions lead to major costs for ensuring thermal comfort in homes. The objectives of the present research include identifying problematic construction elements and the causes of energy losses, as well as identifying potential modernization solutions for residential buildings constructed during Soviet period.