Kamianets-Podilskyi is a city in Khmelnytskyi Oblast of Ukraine, and the seat of Kamianets-Podilskyi district. The area of the city is almost 28 km². As of 1 January 2016, the population of the city was over 101,000 residents.

The city has a wealth of experience in cooperating with international technical assistance projects in a variety of sectors. Its partner organizations include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and others. But many large infrastructure projects are being implemented with own funds or with the help of local investors.    

The Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council has introduced the position of Senior Energy Saving Inspector. This person is subordinated directly to the City Mayor. On 23 December 2008, the city joined the European “Covenant of Mayors” initiative. The Covenant’s signatories commit to reducing their CO₂ emissions by at least 20% by 2020, thus contributing to the development of an environmentally oriented economy and improving their quality of life.

In 2011, the city became a participant in the USAID Municipal Heating Reform Project in Ukraine. The Kamianets-Podilskyi Municipal Energy Plan for 2012-2015 was developed within the framework of this Project and was approved by the Resolution of the City Council Session on 28 February 2012. In addition, in fulfillment of the Covenant of Mayors, and for attracting investments for implementing energy saving measures, in 2011 the city developed and approved a long-term strategy for energy efficiency improvement – the Sustainable Energy Action Plan of Kamianets-Podilskyi through 2020 (SEAP) (Resolution of the City Council session # 9 of 04/29/2011).

In 2014, Kamianets-Podilskyi became one of three associate partner cities of the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project). Within the framework of the USAID Project, the city has refined the SEAP in view of ambitious goals of the city authorities regarding full substitution of natural gas consumed in the communal sector with local alternative energy sources.

Kamianets-Podilskyi SEAP has identified the following strategic goals:

• 20%saving of all energy resources;
• 20% reduction in fossil fuel consumption; and
• reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into atmosphere by 20%.

Infrastructure Projects in Different Sectors of Kamianets-Podilskyi

HEAT SUPPLY

At the end of 2015, the city completed the NEFCO demonstration project on energy efficiency improvement DemoUkrainaDH. As a result of its implementation:

(1) 22 modern modular individual heat substations (IHS) with brazed heat exchangers, control valves of scaled-down size, and heat meters were installed in the residential and public buildings that receive heat from the boiler house at Zhukova Street in Zhovtnevyi micro-district;

(2) internal building heating systems were modernized and balanced; and

(3) a main-line pump with frequency control was installed in the boiler house.

Total investments in the project were Euro 460,000. Expected reduction of СО₂ emission – 850 t/year, and amount of electricity saving – 4,300 MWh/year (or 30%).

The city also participates in Ukraine District Heating Energy Efficiency Project (UDHEEP). The Project started in 2014 and is financed by the World Bank and Clean Technology Fund. The project has a budget of $15.4 million. It is aimed at improving the economic effectiveness of the operation of the heating utilities by reconstructing and modernizing equipment, reducing the consumption of fuel and energy resources, raising services quality, and improving the environmental situation. Plans include the installation of IHSs for multi-apartment buildings in Kamianets-Podilskyi, replacing the old networks and building a new heat power station (35 MW capacity) on natural gas and alternative fuel with funds from a World Bank loan. The construction of the heat power station building should be completed by the end of 2016. Expected project results – substitution of 8,413 th. m³/year of natural gas; reduction of heat losses – 7,692 th. Gcal/year; electricity generation – 7,421 th. kWh/year.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Kamianets-Podilskyi has also passed the first phase of selection for a grant award from the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine (under the Kusanone grant program). Should the city be selected, it will receive a grant for the capital renovation of the façade with heat insulation at Kindergarten # 2 at 60, Cherniahivskoho Street, and capital repair of the roof and water supply and sewage system at Kindergarten # 15.

In July 2016, the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council approved the application for a grant from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for implementing energy efficiency measures including the capital renovation of the heating and hot water supply system at Kindergarten # 2. 

USAID Project Information Campaign in Kamianets-Podilskyi

The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project is conducting a broad information campaign, including an information campaign in Kamianets-Podilskyi, because teaching Ukrainians to be responsible consumers of energy resources is a very important task. The information campaign measures can give a significant effect with relatively low expenses. As a result, everyone can feel personally responsible for the heat and comfort in their apartments, for managing their own housing, etc.

With support from a number of international partners, the city has been taking part in European Sustainable Energy Week for several years. In spring 2016, five Kamianets-Podilskyi secondary schools participated in the electricity saving competition conducted as part of the USAID Project. Kamianets-Podilskyi secondary school # 12 was one of the winners.

Condominium Resource Centers Support

As a result of cooperation between the city and the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project, a Condominium Development Unit started working within the Department of Housing Policy, Roads and Infrastructure of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council in 2011, and in 2012 the Resource Center was officially opened on the basis of the Association of Kamianets-Podilskyi Condominiums” NGO.

87 initiative groups have contacted the Resource Center in 2015 - September 2016 seeking assistance in establishing condominiums. The RC team permanently organizes and conducts training events (seminars and round tables) for the condominium chairmen and those planning to establish condominiums. There were 28f condominiums established in the first three quarters of 2016 (only 5 condominiums were established in 2015).

As of 30 September 2016, there are 159 condominiums functioning in the city. Together with Khmelnytskyi Condominium Resource Center, the Kamianets-Podilskyi Resource Center initiated the adoption of the oblast program on compensation for credit interest (15%) and the draft oblast program on training for condominium chairmen and managers. The RC took part in development of the draft municipal program on compensation of part of the loan principal when the loan is taken out by a condominium for energy efficiency improvements.

The Warm House program has been operating in the city for more than five years. It provides for 50%/50% co-financing by the city authorities and the community. Its objective is the improvement of energy efficiency in multi-apartment buildings through the heat insulation of the key construction elements of the buildings. Over 50 buildings have been insulated under this program.

USAID Project Assistance in Energy Management System Improvement

In 2007, the City Executive Council approved the document “On the Introduction of an Energy Management System in Kamianets-Podilskyi”, and people responsible for collecting meter readings, entering data in the registers and the Energoplan software were appointed.

The USAID Project provides comprehensive methodological and advisory assistance to Kamianets-Podilskyi to make the energy management system compliant with the requirements of the ISO 50001 standard.