Despite all the subsidies, inverters and talk of an energy transition, the heating season in Macedonia still begins in the same place - at the pile of wood in the yard. Nearly four in ten households, around 40 percent, still heat with wood, which keeps this fuel firmly in first place.

Still, something is slowly changing. The popularity of inverter air conditioners is rising, especially among urban households and those looking for a faster, cleaner solution. The choice always comes down to the same calculation in the end - the upfront investment against the monthly cost, and who can afford how much from the start.

Behind the figure of 40 percent stands a bigger story about how an ordinary family lives. Wood remains the first choice not because it's the most modern, but because for many it's the only thing they know and can pay for. While politicians talk about a green transition and European standards, the reality in the yard is different. The transition isn't just technology - it's also the question of who can afford it, and who will stay by the old hearth.