Over 9,000 vouchers for new, energy-efficient household appliances will be distributed among Moldova’s families within the next phase of the EcoVoucher program to take place from April 14 to May 4
According to the Ministry of Energy, this program is implemented by the Moldovan government with the support of the European Union to support families in replacing old and energy-intensive household appliances with new and energy-efficient ones. The current version of the program is financed by Norway, with a budget of 7.5 million euros. A 6,000 lei certificate covers up to 70% of the cost of a refrigerator or washing machine with a high energy consumption class. The program is aimed at reducing household energy costs, increasing comfort at home and promoting sustainable consumption. During the first session of 2025, which ran from February 26 to March 23, 5,119 vouchers were used, resulting in beneficiary households purchasing 2,283 refrigerators and 2,836 washing machines. To receive a voucher, the beneficiary's dwelling must be registered on the platform compensatii.gov.md and meet the selection criteria. In this edition of the program, priority in issuing vouchers is given to families with a large number of children and families with a large number of people over 63 years old. Vouchers are issued automatically during the sessions and beneficiaries are notified of their availability by SMS, email and in their personal account on compensatii.gov.md. To use the voucher, the beneficiary needs to choose a household appliance suitable in terms of type and energy efficiency class in one of the partner stores (according to the information on the voucher), provide an identity document and a photo of the old appliance, and sign a consumer declaration. “The EcoVoucher program is becoming for thousands of families not just a form of support, but an incentive to make more informed choices. We see citizens starting to consider energy efficiency and the real impact of energy consumption on the family budget when making purchases,” said Ion Muntean, Director of the National Center for Sustainable Energy. The program aims to ensure a sustainable impact on both households and the environment. Each new household appliance can provide savings of up to 550 lei per year on average due to higher energy efficiency. At the same time, the program implies mandatory recycling of old equipment, which is accepted free of charge by partner stores. This helps reduce harmful emissions and waste. “By facilitating access to modern and energy efficient household appliances, Norway aims to support vulnerable families in Moldova to benefit from new appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators that will reduce their energy consumption and save them money in the long term. At the same time, the EcoVoucher program contributes to reducing energy inequality and improving the quality of life of the beneficiaries,” said Kamilla H. Kolshus, Charge d'Affaires at the Norwegian Embassy in Moldova. “In the second session, we will continue to help Moldovan consumers switch to more efficient equipment. This is a contribution not only to their daily economy, but also to strengthening energy sustainability at the national level,” added Christian Borchard, Implementation Manager of the Norwegian-funded E4M component under GIZ. The program empowers beneficiaries to make more informed decisions based on energy efficiency labels, the payback period of investments and the impact of consumption on the household budget. In this way, the EcoVoucher program provides not only short-term support, but also promotes sustainable consumption practices. Detailed information about the program, instructions on how to use the voucher and a list of partner stores are available at: www.ecovoucher.md. The availability of the e-voucher can be checked at: verificarevoucher.cned.gov.md. In addition, voucher beneficiaries can get more information by calling the National Center for Sustainable Energy Green Line at 0 8005 5005 or emailing info@ecovoucher.md. The Household Appliance Voucher Program was developed by the Moldovan government with financial support from the European Union. // 14.04.2025 - InfoMarket.
