On February 17, the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine and the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE) organized a press tour for more than 25 journalists from the national and regional media. The event was headed by SAEE Chairman Serhii Savchuk. The press tour participants, together with representatives of the Lviv City Council and Lviv Oblast State Administration, visited two Homeowners Associations in Lviv which had used the State Energy Efficiency Program, successfully implemented a set of energy efficiency measures, and received compensation for part of the loan principal not only from the state but also from the city. The organizers showed by their example that participation in the State Program of "Warm Loans” is beneficial, and that a manifold reduction of the utility bills through energy efficiency measures is realistic.

For example, the Berehynia Homeowners Association has taken out a UAH 1.3 million loan for the comprehensive thermal modernization of the building under the "Warm Loans" Program, of which UAH 810,000 was compensated by the state and the city. The works completed by the Homeowners Association in January enabled the building’s residents to pay only UAH 23 per 1 m² for heating, which is less than 30% of an average bill in the city. Another Homeowners Association, Stryiska 93, has received UAH 1.9 million, of which UAH 671,000 was compensated by the state, and UAH 400,000 was compensated from the municipal budget. As a result, the residents paid only 43% of the initial cost of heat insulation and are now paying UAH 21 per 1 m² for heating.

According to Vira Illiash, Director of Communications and Government Relations at the USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine, the state and municipalities today are interested as never before in implementing energy efficiency measures in the residential sector, because they will benefit both the consumers who will save money and energy resources, and the state, as support of the energy saving initiatives strengthens its own energy independence.