Energy Efficient Buildings Retrofits Breathe New Life into Communities: Civil Society Assessments from Syunik

Various programs are currently being implemented in Armenia to advance energy efficiency. The outcomes are mainly evaluated based on the perspectives of residents, public entities, and international partners.

On this occasion, we seek to highlight the viewpoints of the civil society on the prospects of energy efficiency in the country.

It took considerable time to identify a community NGO working on energy efficiency and related areas. Moreover, the organisation had to focus on information dissemination and awareness-raising activities within those communities.

Sustainable Development NGO was Founded in 2011. The NGO has organized seminars and training sessions in rural areas within the framework of various international projects on climate change, the economic and environmental advantages of energy-efficient technologies, and the practical opportunities for their implementation. These initiatives have focused primarily on students, educators, and entrepreneurs, who serve as key initiators of significant changes within their communities.

We collected information on the activities of Sustainable Development NGO, based in the city of Kapan, Syunik region, and decided to talk to its President. Armen Parsadanyan enthusiastically talks about the projects implemented in the region in recent years and their results.

In 2015, with the support of the Akopyan Environmental Center of the American University of Armenia, the NGO organized a four-day study tour involving fifteen professors, engineers, and NGO representatives from the region to examine energy-efficient buildings and renewable energy technologies implemented in various cities across Armenia.

While walking past residential buildings in Qajaran that have been retrofitted for energy efficiency in recent years, he points to the buildings and observes:

“Energy efficiency is, above all, about comfort—not only thermal, but also in terms of the conditions in the apartment block and the apartment itself. Living conditions have improved, buildings have acquired a renewed appearance, and, most importantly, utility costs have decreased.”

Residents Now Prefer Sensible Renovation

According to him, residents in nearly all settlements of the community are familiar with the concept of energy-efficient retrofitting. In recent years, the use of energy-efficient solutions has become a necessary component in the renovation of houses and apartments.

“The most common measures include replacing windows and light bulbs with better heat-insulating and more efficient alternatives.

Many residents also focus on the thermal insulation of exterior walls, the improvement of basements, the selection of heating boilers, and the installation of solar panels, among other solutions.”

The Local Market Responds to the Demand

According to Armen Parsadanyan, stores selling building materials in communities have various materials and items for energy-efficient retrofitting, provide consultations and help people make choices based on their needs.

“The quality and diversity of the supply have enhanced by growing demand. Information about the benefits of energy-efficient retrofitting is highly viral, it spreads rapidly and motivates people to take concrete steps.”

In 2014, in the Kapan branch of the National Polytechnical University of Armenia, Sustainable Development NGO established an energy efficeincy and renewable energy laboratory, which is equipped with necessary resources and items as well as specialized literature.

Viable solutions through local capacity development

Since Kapan and the surrounding communities are distant from Yerevan, Parsadanyan considers it important to train energy efficiency specialists locally, firstly because there is a demand, and secondly because all international projects are temporary, making it desirable for the knowledge and experience gained through these projects to remain within the communities.

More Active Social Life and Economic Benefits

Parsadanyan states that projects aimed at increasing energy efficiency have revitalised communities. They deliver economic benefits, raise awareness, and address environmental challenges.

Energy Efficiency for Large Businesses Too

“The projects mainly involve community-owned and residential buildings, but from the perspective of enhanced energy efficiency, I believe that it is important to work with businesses, too. For example, the energy consumed by a single piece of equipment in the mining industry is equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately one thousand apartments,” our interlocutor notes.

According to him, for better energy efficiency results, this direction of work should also be considered so that the change is more comprehensive, visible, and wide-ranging.

Need for Continuity

“And the change is unequivocal, positive, and life-changing. All it takes is to maintain the pace, continue engaging with people, and emphasize the importance of energy efficiency along with its economic and climate benefits. Only in this way will we be able to ensure long-term results.”

 Source: https://www.undp.org/armenia