Mistechko USAID in Odesa
|
Lutsk and Odessa. What these two cities may have in common? The answer is quite simple - these are our partner cities, where the USAID Project "Municipal Energy Reform in Ukraine" (USAID Project) held its "USAID Campus" information fair campaign during the City Day celebrations this year. Two days, dozens of hours dedicated to consultations and master classes, hundreds of visitors, thousands of distributed informational materials and millions of emotions. First, on August 25, the residents and visitors of the city of Lutsk came together with their families to meet us at the USAID Project information kiosk. There is little wonder why we had such a good turnout Read more>> |
Development of Municipal Infrastructure
| The Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (Minregion) has publicized on July 25 the Preliminary List of Projects of Ukraine Municipal Infrastructure Development Program which passed the screening phase and were recommended for further consideration. Among them – five projects prepared by the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project). Our partner cities (Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Ternopil, and Zaporizhzhia) presented for Minregion’s consideration the projects on thermal modernization of public buildings, total amount of financing is over Euro 67 million. In the following selection phases, the projects must undergo assessment of financial situation of the end beneficiaries and receive positive conclusion of the Coordination Committee, and of the European Investment Bank. |
USAID Project Signs MOU with Ukrgasbank
| USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) and UKRGASBANK signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 19. Through joint efforts, the partners will promote implementation of the best practices of energy saving, transparency of the municipal energy reform process in Ukraine, and will help the cities attract investments in the energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. Andrii Nesterenko, USAID Senior Energy and Climate Change Specialist, expressed confidence that UKRGASBANK will be a reliable partner in attracting investment in the clean energy projects. "We already have joint experience in implementing successful energy efficiency residential sector projects through the "warm loans" program which we support since 2015. Now, time is right to make our efforts somewhat larger, both in terms of project size and scope. For example: heat supply, water supply, waste management and ecology," – said Mr. Nesterenko. Read more>> |
Final Session of "Energy Audit of Buildings" Workshops
| The final session of the "Energy Audit of Buildings" workshops was held in Kyiv on July 5-7, supported by the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project). 32 energy auditors and energy managers from 12 partner cities of the USAID Project participated in the training. During the workshops, the participants learned how to identify potential projects and studied the methodology of conducting energy audits and compiling the relevant reports. Together with leading European experts, they focused on consistency and handling the intricacies of performing the necessary calculations using the ENSI EAB software product. All the participants immediately applied their knowledge in practice – they conducted energy audits of the most typical building for their region (kindergarten, hospital, etc.). Read more>> |
Trainings for journalists in Dnipro and Lviv
|
The USAID Project continues to educate journalists from its partner cities on the issues of energy efficiency, energy conservation, functioning of the Homeowners Associations (HOA) and use of the alternative energy sources. Two-day trainings "Key Information on Energy Efficiency in Media" took place in Lviv (July 6-7) and in Dnipro (July 11-12). 37 journalists from Dnipro, Donetsk, Lviv, Rivne, and Volyn oblasts took part in the trainings. Together with the Project experts, they not only studied the modern energy efficient technologies, materials and alternative energy sources to be selected for modernization of buildings. They also discussed the latest technologies for providing information on various media platforms, use of correct terminology in the articles and videos, and busted the most common myths about establishment and operation of HOAs. Read more>> |
Fourth edition of Information Digest
| The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) has prepared the fourth edition of the "New Investment Opportunities" information digest. The increase of government support and interest of investors for channeling funds to increase energy efficiency in the housing and communal services sector has opened for the cities new and previously unavailable opportunities to participate in pilot and demonstration projects for receiving concession loans and grant funds, as well as financing energy efficiency measures through public-private partnerships. This time, we are presenting the most illustrative investment projects in energy efficiency, implemented or planned for implementation, in the USAID Project partner cities in the northern and central regions of Ukraine – Vinnytsia, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kyiv, Sumy and Khmelnytskyi. Read more>> |
Trainings for Journalists Started
| The team of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine started on June 13 a series of new two-day seminars for journalists, called “Key Information on Energy Efficiency in Media.” The first event included 24 journalists from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. On the first day, the journalists learned about the variety of modern energy efficient technologies, the specifics of the construction of energy efficient and passive buildings, the correct use of the key terminology in housing and communal services, and also dispelled myths on the establishment and functioning of homeowners association. Read more>> |
Municipal Transport Infrastructure Development
| Ten partner cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine will receive funding for transport infrastructure development. This financing became possible after President Poroshenko signed the Law of Ukraine "On Ratification of the Financial Agreement between Ukraine and European Investment Bank" (Project "Municipal Public Transport of Ukraine"). The objective of the agreement is to allow municipalities to take out, against state guarantees, up to € 200 mln in credit from the European Investment Bank for spending on improvements to municipal public transportation. Read more>> |
Kramatorsk Transport Portrait
| In March 2017, Kramatorsk started work on the Public Transport Efficiency Project which is implemented within the framework of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine. The objective of the project is to develop recommendations for improving transport infrastructure, and to improve the efficiency of municipal transport operations. Read more>> |
Zaporizhzhia Implements Clean Energy Projects
| The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) conducted energy audits of 60 public buildings in Zaporizhzhia, including 53 educational establishments and 7 health protection institutions. The audits formed the basis of documents allowed the City Council to form an application for € 16.7mln in credit from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under the "Ukraine Municipal Infrastructure Development Program" project (UMIDP). The city’s application received a positive assessment regarding the compliance of the projects with eligibility criteria, and is waiting to be included in the Preliminary List of UMIDP Projects as a result of the second phase of selection by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine. Read more>> |
SEAP Implementation in Ternopil
| Ternopil approved in 2013 the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) developed with support of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project (USAID Project). It envisages СО2 reduction by more than 22% through 2020. In cooperation with the USAID Project, the document was updated in 2016 and its implementation is in progress. Read more>> |
Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and Izmail developed SECAP
|
Growth in utility tariffs, significant dependence of economy on imports of the energy carriers, atmospheric air pollution and natural disasters caused by the global warming – these and other factors require finding opportunities to save energy resources and, consequently, reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. A significant load related to solving the energy efficiency problems and implementing steps to modernize housing and communal services falls on the shoulders of the city authorities. Read more>> |
Energy Efficiency Day in Sumy
| The team of USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine has conducted on June 10 the Sustainable Energy Day in Sumy. The Project information kiosk was put up in the city central park, and everyone was able to receive here a free advice and information brochures on the issues of energy saving, use of energy saving technologies and equipment, heat insulation of buildings, establishment of the condominiums and use of alternative energy source. The youngest visitors, together with the USAID Project team, were making the paper windmills and participated in the clean energy experiments. In such a way, the children and the USAID Project volunteers were discovering the world of renewable energy sources. |
Chernihiv Experience of SEAP Implementation
| The city of Chernihiv is a good example for replication as it has not stopped developing and changing for the better even in the country’s difficult times. The local authorities put a lot of effort into resolving the problems accumulated over the years, and in making the city more energy efficient, neat and comfortable for living. The development of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) for 2015-2023 in cooperation with the USAID Project and its adoption by the City Council has opened realistic opportunities for Chernihiv to attract investments for the implementation of energy efficiency projects and measures. A positive credit history, properly prepared applications to international financial institutions and clear business plans for each of the projects have all helped with attracting the attention of international financial institutions to Chernihiv. Read more>> |
Ukrgazbank Long-Term Lending Program
| The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine supports energy efficiency in its partner cities and the implementation of comprehensive solutions allowing the municipalities to obtain the necessary financial resources, reduce their energy consumption and save the funds of the communities. Special attention should be given to the programs not only providing the required support to the populace, condominiums, and housing and construction cooperatives, but which also can be interesting and effective for the communal utilities. Ukrgazbank recently started a long-term lending program which enables Ukrainian communal utilities to obtain funds for the reconstruction, renovation, or capital overhaul of real estate, the purchase of real estate, equipment, vehicles and special mechanisms, construction works, or further construction. The period of such lending will correspond to the payback period of the investment projects, and may be up to 7 years. Read more>> |
Kremenchuk will Implement Investment Projects
