Environmental research

Justification There are 10 huts and 4 refuges on the territory of Pirin National Park with more than 1200 places for accommodation. All of those places face the following problems: Low energy efficiency of the buildings, lack of isolation and energy inefficient woodwork. None of those huts is constructed so it can be spitted in winter and summer part. Only small part of those places are connected to the electric network and most of them produce electricity with diesel aggregates. In total more than 40 tones of fuel are burned for electricity light and heating and as a result more than 32 tone of 2 are thrown in the atmosphere, without counting the additional 2 emissions for transport of that fuel or fuel vapour during its preservation. All huts are heated with coals, naphtha or wood. All huts have problem with waste generation, transport of waste and none of the huts has a system for separate waste gathering. None of the huts has a water purification system. None of those places for accommodation use any solar or wind technology for light, electricity or heating. Location Pirin national Park and its buffer zone, Refuge Tevno ezero Project Target Groups Main target groups are: All visitors of the refuge Tevno ezero, around 6000 people per year. All refuges in Bulgaria (374) which can gain precious experience and ideas how they can be manage in environmentally friendly way Owners and managers of private hotels which would like to decrease their environmental impact and would like to use renewable energy sources for electricity or heating. 16.5. Goal and expected impacts The main goal of the project is to contribute for popularization of different environmentally friendly practices in hotel and hut functioning, mainly among those situated on the territory of Pirin National Park, including use of RES and EE. 16.6. Objectives and expected results Converting the refuge Tevno ezero into eco model, implementing different environmental practices in their everyday functioning. The project will install in the refuge a hybrid system using the solar and wind power for producing electricity, solar system for hot water, passive solar system for heating and etc. Additionally the project will produce a website hosting all producers of eco technologies in Bulgaria and user friendly guide for best environmental practices. Major activities Installation of hybrid system using the solar and wind power for producing electricity, solar system for hot water, passive solar system for heating. Inside isolation of the refuge and change of the woodwork. Dividing the refuge on winter and summer part in order to optimize its heating during the winter System for separate waste collection and composting System for water protection and purification Study of best environmental practices for hotels and refuges Printing a brochure with best environmental practices Website hosting all producers of eco technologies in Bulgaria Study on eco certification schemes in EU and Bulgaria Dissemination workshops in Pirin national Park, Rila National Park and Central Balkan National Park Contest for Eco hut of the year 2010

Bulgaria