Arch. Kolarov, it has been two years since the foundation of BGBC. Which of the association’s goals have been accomplished until now and what are the challenges ahead?

- During the last two years we managed to develop as an organization, to build a stable and working structure. We already have over 50 members - representing industry, construction business, IT, financial institutions, academics, architects, engineers, etc. The Bulgarian Green Building Council received a well-deserved recognition at international level - we are the only Bulgarian organization, which is member of the Toronto-based World Green Building Council. Our work has been directed toward the realization of the Council’s main goals: initiate, support, and implement activities, related to the improvement of life conditions in Bulgaria through the formation of a sustainable environment and healthy built environment with minimal harm for nature.

The Bulgarian Green Building Council is partnering with the German Green Building Council - DGNB, and has the contractual rights to apply its DGNB system for certification of buildings and urban areas. It has been adapted to the Bulgarian environment and legislation, and the pilot certification projects are already a fact. We have many new challenges ahead. We have to make and keep the professional community of architects and engineers “up to date” with the global trends in the field of sustainable buildings.


What are the main reasons for your organization to work for the implementation of a Bulgarian green buildings certificate and what will be the main advantages for the local business as a result of this process?

- Standards indeed lead to quality; the lack of standards leads to low quality. Standards for green buildings are developed at European level and they should be applied in Bulgaria as well. These standards define parameters, which are also included in the current certification systems available on the market. In Bulgaria still only the basic energy efficiency measures are considered - replacing the windows and thermal isolation of walls. This is not the proper way toward green buildings. The role of our organization is quite responsible as we work for a complete approach which should guarantee comfortable environment. Besides legislation, green buildings certification systems are the most powerful instruments for imposing the sustainable projects on the market. They are not only a marketing instrument, they also define requirements.


Your organization is also promoting sustainable urban development. What should be the appearance of the Bulgarian town in the 21-st century?

- The challenges for the Bulgarian town of the 21-st century are related to achieving a better dialogue between public authorities, citizens, owners, and visitors. The economic potential during the design of the sustainable urban area is related to diminishing energy consumption, improving existing infrastructure and use of renewable energy, diminishing transportation costs through alternative mobility and better transport services, more efficient space utilization, “recycling” of abandoned and polluted areas, diminishing construction costs through early planning, and stability of private and public investments. The sustainable urban environment encourages the multifunctionality of built areas and the evasion of segregation in society.

An essential element of the complete sustainable urban concept is the design and construction of green buildings.


Who are the main partners of your organization in the fulfillment of its goals? Which institutions and sectors of the economy should be included in the striving toward the sustainable development of buildings and urban areas?

- BGBC became cofounder of a DGNB international board, which partners with green building councils from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, China, Hungary, Slovenia, and Thailand. The international board besides from being a controlling body, which observes the quality application of the certification system, is also a platform for exchange of knowledge, practices, and contacts. Our partners in Bulgaria are the Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association, the Energy Efficiency Agency, the Technical University - Sofia, the University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy (UACG), etc. We work perfectly with the Bulgarian government. We have very good relations with the Ministry of regional development and public works, with minister Donchev who is responsible for EU funds. Our mutual goals and our common philosophy bring us together - to ensure economic prosperity, employment, transformation of the construction sector market.


Recently you signed an agreement for cooperation with the Energy Efficiency Agency. What are the main domains of your cooperation and what results do you expect?

- The Energy Efficiency Agency is an important partner for us. It is a matter of days for it to be transformed into an Agency for Sustainable Energy Development. We have many things in common, and our mutual work will support the improvement of energy efficiency and the achievement of sustainable development. This is a goal which is in absolute harmony with the “Europe 2020” strategy of the EU. We are in the process of forming a work group together with the Agency, so that we are going to start activities right after the signing of the agreement. We intend to conduct mutual trainings for specialists and participants in the investment process on contemporary topics in the field of sustainable and energy-efficient construction.


Still in Bulgaria there are not enough knowledge and skills in the field of green buildings and sustainable urban areas. How would you encourage this process and what educational initiatives would you support?

- The interest of both architects and engineers in these topics is rising, consultants are looked for in order to accompany projects in the process of their development. The way for education of specialists is to conduct seminars, trainings, conferences, and to attract the young colleagues - the architecture students. Our mission is to reach a moment in which the rules for sustainable construction will be broadly applied. The Council would support training under the form of a master program or other type of education in cooperation with professors from TU-Sofia and the UACG. The first step in this direction is the signing of agreements for cooperation with these universities.


In the end of September the BGBC is organizing a conference. What will be the main accents during this event?

- This is the most significant event in Bulgaria in the field of green buildings. During the Sustainability Forum Sofia - More than green on September 29 we will discuss problems related to the future of Bulgaria in the context of the European sustainable development policy; European green buildings experience will be shown; as well as the methods for energy efficient buildings management and the new requirements for construction products. Participation in the forum has been confirmed by the member of the European Commission Kristalina Georgieva, minister Rosen Plevneliev, minister Tomislav Donchev. Experts from Germany, Denmark, Austria, Poland, and Romania will be speaking at the conference. The event will be part of the World Green Building Week, which is marked all over the world under the aegis of the World Green Building Council. This will be a look on “sustainability” from different viewpoints, with guest speakers who have a lot to say.
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Georgi Kolarov graduated Architecture at the Dresden Technical University. He began working at Technoexportstroy in 1981 and participated in a large number of projects in Africa and the Middle East. Since 1991 he is a director at  Bulgarconsult Architecture and Engineering, has managed and realized significant project work including banks, hotels, offices, residential and commercial buildings.
Arch. Kolarov is an active figure in the field of sustainable construction and development and is a main initiator in the creation of the Bulgarian Green Building Council, serving as President of the Board of Directors since 2009.