Change Mentality of Ukrainians towards Energy Efficiency - Goal of Training Seminars for Journalists.

Experts of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project are confident that the Ukrainians should be taught today how to consume the available energy resources correctly, and in general mentality should be changed towards the responsible and energy saving behavior. And it should start with those who form public opinion, i.e. from the journalists covering the topics related to energy reform and reform of the housing and communal services sector from the negative perspective.

That is why the Project experts are conducting a series of seminars where they provide the journalists with the most comprehensive information on such important topics as energy efficiency in buildings, energy potential of Ukraine, and alternative energy sources. They provide answers to the questions about growth of tariffs, information on state programs to support the low income population, and on the program which provides loans for energy efficiency measures in multi-apartment buildings. In addition, USAID MERP experts and partners demonstrate to the media materials for building insulation, tell about their main advantages and disadvantages, and explain what energy efficient windows should be like, and what to look for when choosing them. This training enables the journalists to better understand the problems and issues raised at the seminars. Proper knowledge encourages them to cover information responsibly, impartially and for the benefit of their audiences. Indeed, MERP experts remind during the trainings about educational function of journalism and the role of journalists in education of the energy efficient society.