Sun Dă-i Fest 2024 – a festival of green technologies and sustainable living

Sun Dă-i Fest 2024, the most eco-friendly festival in the Republic of Moldova, has returned for its eighth edition, which aims to promote energy efficiency, raise awareness of environmental issues and support sustainable development. The festival took place on June 16 in the public garden “Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt” and brought together communities advocating for renewable energy and presenting green technologies: from photovoltaic panels and heat pumps to house models designed with minimal energy losses. The event was organized by UNDP Moldova in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of the Environment, with financial support from the European Union, Denmark and Japan.

Visitors participated in engaging activities – from games for children, teenagers and adults to presentations of the latest technologies and devices powered by renewable energy, offering inspiration and valuable information. One of the attractions of the event was a bicycle generating electricity that was used to illuminate a model map of the Republic of Moldova. By pedaling, people could see how their energy could be converted into electricity.

“Each of us plays a key role in promoting sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. By adopting environmentally friendly practices in our daily lives, we can contribute to a better future. Sun Dă-i Fest is an annual platform to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire everyone to actively participate. This year, over 70 environmental organizations and companies are joining the event to showcase innovative clean energy solutions and green products,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Representative in the Republic of Moldova.

The event provided participants with the opportunity to learn more about renewable energy, energy efficiency and other aspects related to reducing climate impact. More than 70 environmental organizations and companies presented their technological innovations and sold handmade products.

“Innovation serves as a catalyst to accelerate the necessary green transformation to fight climate change. By using new ideas, technologies and approaches, we can create a sustainable future that prioritizes protecting the environment and addressing the urgent challenges of a changing climate,” said Solomon Ioannou, Program Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

The Sustainable Energy Avenue created during the festival highlighted new technologies in the field of solar energy and other green energy sources. Models of photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, ecological thermal insulation materials, biomass installations and models of houses designed with minimal heat losses in mind were presented. In this way, participants established direct contact with experts and discovered specific solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint.

“The world’s political leaders continue to talk relentlessly about the need for higher economic growth. Business leaders strive for ever greater profits. Yes, everyone wants to have a comfortable life, including me. However, economic growth is largely linked to greater use of energy, resources and water. Scientists warn that our consumption of resources already far exceeds the capacity of planet Earth,” said Yoichiro Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Moldova.

As part of the Sun Dă-i Fest, a practical exercise was held on choosing measures to increase the energy efficiency of homes in order to reduce the cost of bills. Participants then tested their knowledge about green energy and energy efficiency and received prizes.

For children, the festival was an opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time. The youngest visitors could take advantage of educational and entertainment activities, such as face painting, a climbing wall and interactive scientific presentations on energy resources. These activities helped them better understand the concept of sustainable development and environmental protection.

The culmination of the festival was a live music concert with the participation of Valeria Pasha, Mareja, Snails, Dunaf Band, Aliona Moon and Pasha Parfeni.

Sun Dă-i Fest 2024 is part of the European Sustainable Energy Week, organized annually in European countries to promote renewable energy sources and efficient energy use.