Kyiv, 27 December 2018 – An Intergovernmental Technical Working Group has been officially formed in Kyiv to provide guidance and support for the development of a national Energy Management Information System (EMIS). Initiated by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP) and with the support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Technical Working Group will engage governmental representatives, industry experts, and business and international communities in dialogue to find the best solutions for establishing and introducing a national EMIS in Ukraine.

Buildings account for more than 5% of Ukraine’s energy use and are responsible for two million tons of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions. Energy efficiency in buildings in Ukraine is on average approximately three to four times lower than in western European countries. Therefore, improving the energy performance of buildings is a key factor in the fight against climate change, and improving Ukraine’s energy security and economy. Energy management via monitoring energy consumption levels through data collection and analysis is an effective way of reducing energy costs and resources in public buildings in Ukraine, and will also lead to decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change mitigation and achieving the country’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The UNDP has already introduced energy management information systems in several Ukrainian cities, including Chortkiv, Ternopil and Bila Tserkva under the UNDP/GEF project “Removing Barriers to Increase Investments in the Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings in Ukraine through the ESCO Modality in Small and Medium-Sized Cities”.

“The UNDP is privileged to be working with cities and municipalities to improve overall energy management and achieve energy resource and cost savings in Ukraine. Our first pilot projects on establishing local energy management and monitoring systems showed great results in terms of user behaviour changes, increased awareness and local community engagement, as well as a high annual energy savings potential of 5-7%”, said Blerta Cela, UNDP Ukraine’s Deputy Country Director.

The Technical Working Group established by UNDP to effectively introduce EMIS in Ukraine, will engage members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ministry of Regional Development, Building and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine, State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, international organisations, businesses and other partners. The Technical Working Group will focus on developing a national methodology for energy management and a strategy for establishing a national EMIS, including the preparation of guidance documents, concepts, technical materials and proposals for legislative changes needed to set the proper baseline for the future Ukrainian EMIS’ operations.

Background information:

UNDP’s “Removing Barriers to Increase Investments in Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings in Ukraine through the ESCO Modality in Small and Medium-Sized Cities” project implemented with support from GEF is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a favourable legal, regulatory, and market environment, and building institutional, administrative and technical capacities to promote energy efficiency measures in public buildings in small and medium-sized cities of Ukraine, including hospitals, schools, governmental and higher education facilities, kindergartens, orphanages, pharmacies, employment centres, libraries, and museums. The project also covers the creation of a single nationwide energy consumption database, along with the Energy Management and Monitoring System for Ukraine. Learn more about the project here.

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, Communications Team Leader, UNDP Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org, communciations.ukraine@undp.org

Photo credit: Brandon Hartwig/ UNDP Ukraine