As of next year, all legal entities operating in the construction sector in Macedonia will have to develop an Energy Efficiency Report in order to obtain a building license.

"Building licenses will not be issued if there is no document confirming the implementation of energy efficiency measures. This is a new stage in the construction sector, which will open new jobs", said Economy Minister Valon Saraqini after Monday's presentation in the Chambers of Commerce of the Rulebook on energy efficiency in public buildings and energy controls.

According to him, if all energy efficiency measures were to be implemented, there would be a requirement for about 10,000 new workers in the construction sector by 2020.

"The Energy Agency will issue a public call for energy controllers in September, with about 2,800 workers to go through training", added Saraqini.

He said the task of the energy controllers would be to issue energy passports.

"In line with the Energy Law, all public facilities will require an energy passport within three years, saying how much energy they are annually spending", said Minister Saraqini.

The Ministry’s analyses have shown the health sector has a 56-percent share of energy consumption in the public sector, followed by education with 23 percent.

"Therefore, energy efficiency measures need to be implemented in hospitals and schools. We have done this through the first stage of the World Bank's GEF project, resulting in the reconstruction of 40 schools. The second action plan, which implementation is to begin in 2014 and last for the next seven years, includes investments of approximately US$ 96 million, resulting in annual energy savings of EUR 13 million", stressed Saraqini.

Construction Chamber President Sead Kocan said implementation of the energy efficiency standards opened a new era in the construction sector.

"This will result in the opening of new jobs and increase in sales of materials used for energy efficiency purposes, but also healthier environment", said Kocan.