On 7 November 2009, the “Energy Modernisation of Administrative Buildings in Ukraine: Practices and Challenges” Forum was held in Kyiv. There the manual on “Best Practices and Advice on Establishment of Energy Efficient ASC in AH”, developed by the leading Ukrainian and Swedish experts of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme was presented.

The manual is designed to raise hromadas’ awareness of current technologies and energy efficient approaches that contribute to sustainable development.

Natalia Starostenko, Head of Local Development Sector at the European Union Delegation to Ukraine, welcomed the participants and noted: “Thanks to the decentralisation reform that has been successfully implemented in Ukraine in recent years, millions of Ukrainians have improved their lives. The EU supports reform within the frames of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, funded by the EU and its member states Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. Since 2016, U-LEAD has been supporting the establishment of proper ASCs in hromadas. It is important to ensure the sustainable development of such new institutions and infrastructure in hromadas, as well as efficient use of human, financial and energy resources. We hope that this manual will provide hromadas with practical tools to enhance innovation capacity, create energy efficient public buildings that will lead to sustainable growth and development.”

Oleksandr Boikul, Head of the Energy Saving Expert Group, Directorate of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories, took part in a panel discussion on the National Energy Efficiency Strategy. “From July 2019, certification of energy efficiency of certain categories of budgetary buildings is mandatory. Certainly, many local governments now need professional help in implementing an energy-efficient approach when planning construction and thermal modernisation of buildings. We are pleased that, with the support of international donors, there are manuals in Ukraine that provide professional advice and examples of minimising energy costs through a variety of tools. We thank the U-LEAD with Europe Programme for its attention to the issue of energy efficiency in public buildings in general and ASCs in particular. Such educational work is especially important in view of MinRegion’s intentions to develop a National Plan for increasing the number of buildings with almost zero energy consumption, the Strategy of thermo-modification of buildings, other acts aimed at reducing energy consumption in administrative buildings, and ensure their demonstrable role in this direction,” noted Mr Boikul.

An online energy efficiency calculator for administrative buildings was presented at the Forum together with the manual. It is a tool for the hromada to calculate the level of energy efficiency of ASC and other administrative buildings, as well as learn about measures that will help save the cost of maintaining such buildings with no harm to visitor’s comfort. The calculator is available at the link: https://tsnap.ulead.org.ua/energy/

Susanna Dellans, Sida Programme Director of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, noted: “I am delighted that cooperation of Swedish and Ukrainian experts has become the basis for the creation of a joint manual that provides clear guidance to hromadas on the establishment of energy efficient ASCs and other administrative buildings. I am sure that each hromada will find helpful tips in the manual that will help minimise energy costs and save budget funds.”

During the Forum, the participants discussed state strategies for the modernisation of administrative buildings, opportunities for cooperation between hromadas and the public sector in green technologies, and learned about best practices for implementing energy efficient technologies in Sweden and in Ukrainian hromadas.

The full version is available in Ukrainian – please click HERE