The USAID Municipal Energy Reform Project in Ukraine (USAID Project) is actively conducting energy audits in the new partner cities. Reports have been prepared for the mayors of Bolhrad, Chornomorsk, Mariupol, Odesa,  and Yuzhne regarding energy consumption and energy losses in 112 public buildings – local hospitals and schools, kindergartens, administrative buildings, as well as standard residential buildings. All the objects were selected on the basis of analyses of their technical condition, year of construction, importance of social improvements from the implementation of the energy efficiency measures, level of energy resources consumption, and available potential for savings.

The energy audit results demonstrated that, for instance, in the housing sector of most of the cities, the buildings have above-the-norm consumption of energy resources and one of the lowest energy efficiency classes – “F”. In addition, the experts revealed that because of non-compliance with the air mode norms in most of the audited buildings, there is a significant deviation of the actual level of heat energy consumption from the basic need. And the low level of building energy efficiency is caused by the fact that most of them were constructed in 1970-1990s, when “energy efficient” construction was not economically feasible due to the low cost of energy resources.

Based on the results of the energy audits conducted, the USAID Project will develop for each city a number of options for the energy efficiency measures that will differ in scope of work, the list of measures and buildings, the general potential for energy saving and the amount of investments required. In addition, the USAID Project experts will select and propose grant financing programs through which the cities will be able to implement the selected energy efficiency measures and clean energy projects.

First Steps

Odesa

In Odesa, the USAID Project conducted energy audits of 40 municipal objects, including 13 kindergartens, 23 schools, gymnasiums and professional training schools, as well as the buildings of polyclinics, the maternity hospital and Prymorska District Administration. Each site was analyzed for the current condition of the building envelope, engineering networks (heating, hot water supply, ventilation and lighting systems), and electrical equipment. Also, the Project prepared the energy balances of the buildings, identified their baseline energy consumption, suggested energy saving measures, and identified the efficiency and economic feasibility of their implementation.

Mariupol

From December 2016 through March 2017, the USAID Project was conducting energy audits of 40 buildings in Mariupol – local hospitals and schools, kindergartens and standard residential buildings. The main task is to identify the key sources of energy losses in the city, and to develop the plan of key energy efficiency measures. Their implementation will allow the city to reduce significantly the consumption of energy resources and improve the level of energy efficiency in the municipal and residential buildings. Also, the USAID Project will help the city to introduce an energy management system, develop a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), and select the grant and credit programs for the further implementation of the energy efficiency measures and clean energy projects.

Izmail

In Izmail, the USAID Project presented the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) on 17 March. It includes 73 projects, the implementation of which will help the city reduce energy consumption by 196,800 MW and reduce CO2 emission by 70,100 t by 2030. All the proposed projects were developed by the specialists for the sectors of heat supply, water supply and sewage, transport, lighting, residential sector, etc.

Chornomorsk

The USAID Project, together with the municipality of Chornomorsk, analyzed the primary documents on energy consumption of all municipal buildings and standard residential buildings in the city. As a result, the 16 objects with the highest energy consumption were selected. Further, the experts conducted more detailed energy audits for these objects. This allowed them to compile a list of the energy efficiency measures for every building with the incorporation of best international practices, normative and legal framework and safety rules in the construction sector.

By the end of May 2017, the USAID Project will prepare for Chornomorsk the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) – a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy with a detailed plan for implementing energy saving measures and clean energy projects.