Romania, an East European country with a population of around 18 million people, member of European Union since 2007, has now 4 cities & 1 village where green buildings receive tax reduction from the municipality through a de-minimis funding program. This is a huge success for Romania after long efforts of Romania Green Buildings Council and other local stakeholders.

Right now there are 83 buildings LEED certified & in progress, 57 BREAM certified or in progress and 20 buildings Green Homes certified or in progress. The level of ambition for top office buildings is very high, being a challenge for who has the most sustainable office buildings in Romania with the highest score.

The good thing is that this tax exemption is encouraging people to discuss more about green buildings. The bad thing is that to get a 20% tax exemption is very easy as getting the BREAM GOOD certification is not that difficult. Hopefully, in the following years, the level of ambition will increase.

Check the report with Romania’s Greenest Buildings created by Romania Green Building Council.

Timișoara: 300,000 people

• 20/35/50% tax exemption for companies’ green buildings (20% for Good / Silver)
• Total Budget: 2,000,000 euros (max 25,000 euro/applicant)
• Duration: 2014-2019
• Certification accepted: LEED, BREAM, DGNB, CASBEE, Green Star
• Level of ambition: low

More info (Romanian language): HCL nr. 41/29.07.2016

Cluj Napoca: 300,000 people

• 20/35/50% tax exemption for companies’ green buildings (20% for Good / Certified)
• Total Budget: 567,000 euros (max 25,000 euro/applicant)
• Duration: 2017-2019, 2019-2020
• Certification accepted: LEED, BREAM, DGNB, CASBEE, Green Star
• Level of ambition: low

More info (Romanian language): HCL nr. 20/2016

Iași: 320,000 people

• 20/35/50% tax exemption for companies’ green buildings (20% for Good / Bronze)
• Total Budget: 610,000 euros (max 20,000 euro/applicant)
• Duration: 01.2019 – 12.2021
• Certification accepted: LEED, BREAM, DGNB, CASBEE, HOE, GBRestore, WELL
• Level of ambition: low

More info (Romanian language): HCL

Zalău: 43,000 people

• 20/35/50% tax exemption for companies’ green buildings (20% for Good / Certified)
• Total Budget: 241,000 euros (max 25,000 euro/applicant)
• Duration: 2019-2020
• Certification accepted: LEED, BREAM, DGNB, LBC
• Level of ambition: low

More info (Romanian language): HCL 310/27.09.2018

Tunari: 3,000 people (a village nearby Romania’s capital city, Bucharest)

• 50% tax exemption for households for Green Homes cerification
• Total Budget: unlimited
• Duration: 2018+
• Certification accepted: Green Homes (RoGBC)
• Level of ambition: medium