A Hungarian innovation is the solution for the heating of poor families’ homes

The group of Apro’Tech from Hungary was awarded in Brussels in the final of the joint energy poverty tackling programme of the Electric Schneider Foundation and the Ashoka International Organisation.

Overall, 14 initiatives from the region were presented before the jury. Among the winners, there is a solar energy-powered bicycle and a peculiar board game, reports Start up! Magazine.

In the final of the Tackle Energy Poverty event in Brussels, five projects from five countries were awarded. The Tackle Energy Poverty is a programme of the Schneider Electric Foundation, condensing social endeavours, and was run by the Ashoka International Organisation.

The winning projects received a prize of 3,500 euros and additional mentor support.

They were searching for the most promising ideas and initiatives in developmental stages from five countries of the region: Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. They were also required to offer a solution to managing problems stemming from the economic, environmentalist, and societal aspects of energy production and consumption.

Overall, 14 initiatives were presented before the jury in the final. Out of the three Hungarian finalists, Apro’Tech received an award. The company created a mass heater for low-income families with the purpose of easing energy poverty.

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The purpose of the company, established in 2000, is for Hungary to become a country that uses its resources in a sustainable way as well as giving accessible services to communities in need, mainly in the areas of energy consumption and heating during winter.

Amongst Hungarian finalists in Brussels was the group of W-heat who applied with manufacturing eco-friendly insulation from locally sourced materials. The company developed a straw-based insulating method which can be an alternative to the currently available and widely used foam material.

The Igazgyöngy Foundation wants to develop its previously created pilot for bio briquette manufacturing by establishing a sustainable business so that it gives a solution for as many beneficiaries as possible.