Zhytomyr plans to become the first climate-neutral city in Ukraine by 2050 and has already reduced carbon emissions by more than 40%, exceeding the 2022 target of 30%.
This was discussed during the press conference "Climate-neutral future of Zhytomyr. Green transition of the city to 100% RES by 2050", in which the editorial office of EcoPolitics took part.
The mayor of Zhytomyr Serhiy Sukhomlin said that already in 2014 there was an understanding that gas and other energy resources are the same weapons of Russia as missiles and tanks. Ukraine's dependence on Russian energy resources was huge and it was used as a lever of influence for years.
Therefore, in 2014, the city adopted the Development Strategy, in which energy efficiency became one of the most important components. At that time, Zhytomyr used 96 million m3 of gas for heating. Currently, this figure has been reduced to 46 million m2.
Sukhomlin emphasized that the city actively developed energy-efficient programs and participated in numerous European climate projects. For example, in 2019, Zhytomyr received a silver European Energy Award for reducing CO2 emissions by 20%. By 2022, the amount of emissions was supposed to be reduced by 30%, but it was possible to achieve a reduction of more than 40%.
He explained that thanks to energy efficiency, the city:
- saves energy resources and budget funds;
- reduces anthropogenic load on the environment;
- programs contribute to the sustainable management and development of the city.
Sukhomlin emphasized that on average in Ukraine, heat losses during heating reach 12%, and in some cities up to 30%. These losses are included in utility bills. And in Zhytomyr, the second heating season in a row passes with losses of 4-4.5%. Because of this, the city has one of the lowest tariffs in Ukraine.
He emphasized that by 2030, Zhytomyr plans to abandon gas by 80%.
Successful implementation of projects also facilitates access to funding in other programs. Thus, in Zhytomyr, numerous projects on thermal modernization of residential buildings and objects of social infrastructure were implemented. For example, since 2014, 18 kindergartens and 6 schools have been thermally modernized in the city.
Sukhomlin emphasized that energy-efficient measures helped the city survive the Russian terrorist attacks on Ukraine's energy system as easily as possible. For example, two years ago in Zhytomyr, programs were started to unite city, district and neighborhood boiler houses. Therefore, when one boiler house failed, others provided people with heat.
He added that due to the full-scale invasion, some projects had to be suspended. For example, the renovation of Zhytomyrvodokanal, the construction of new sewage treatment facilities using the latest European technologies (with funds from the World Bank) and the main sewage pumping station (with grant funds from Slovenia).
Although tap water in Ukraine meets all sanitary standards, people often use purchased or spring water due to poor taste. The project is designed to solve this problem.
Zhytomyr was also the first in Ukraine to sign an agreement on the transition to 100% renewable energy sources by 2050. Sukhomlin is convinced that it is quite possible to do this. To realize this goal, the city plans to start negotiations with the solar and wind industry soon. In addition, JSC Naftogaz plans to build a CHP plant in Zhytomyr that will run on wood and RDF (environmentally safe fuel from recycled waste). The CHP will be able to provide heat and electricity for up to a third of the city. This will be facilitated by the recently launched waste processing plant.
Sukhomlin said that in 2019, the street lighting modernization program was completed in Zhytomyr. The outdated lighting system was replaced with LED lights and the number of light points was increased. Currently, in energy-saving mode, city lighting requires 320-350 kW per hour.
He emphasized that thanks to a series of energy-efficient programs in Zhytomyr, during blackouts, the lights were almost never turned off, because the city invested in the limits.
The press tour participants visited kindergarten No. 6, which was thermally modernized in 2015. The 1968 building was losing heat through large windows and gaps. Comprehensive modernization - from the roof to the facade - allowed to increase the temperature in the facility from +16-17 °C to 20-21 °C. At the same time, heat consumption was reduced by 55-60%. The facility was also equipped with an individual heating unit.
Tetyana Kazmerchuk, the director of primary school No. 6, said that thanks to this, children became less sick, and attendance increased.
The modernization was carried out thanks to the support of the Northern Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO), the Fund of the Eastern European Partnership for Energy Efficiency and the Environment (E5R) and the city budget. The total cost of the works reached about 8 million hryvnias.
Kazmerchuk noted that energy monitoring is conducted every morning in educational institutions. Thus, the special program includes information on the temperature regime, indicators of water, heat and electricity. This is necessary to monitor the saving of resources and money. The money from the saved heat remains in the institution and is spent on local needs, in particular, on employee bonuses and the purchase of necessary equipment. In 2022, the savings amounted to about 20 thousand hryvnias.
The participants also visited the condominium "Vulik-21" on Narodytska Street. It was modernized in 2015 as part of the "warm loans" program for 188 thousand hryvnias (30% was compensated from the city budget – 56 thousand hryvnias, from the regional budget – 10 thousand hryvnias, from the state budget – 83 thousand hryvnias). They also carried out energy-efficient measures under package "B" of the "Energodim" program for 25 million hryvnias.
Lyudmila Panchenko, the head of the board of the condominium association, emphasized that after the modernization, the amount of heat payments for the residents of the building decreased by 40-50%.
Project organizers: Public Association "Business for Partnership" as part of the project "Promotion of energy efficiency and implementation of the EU Directive on energy efficiency in Ukraine", which is carried out by the German government company GIZ on behalf of the Governments of Germany and Switzerland. GIZ Ukraine
The project is implemented with the support of: Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, State Energy Efficiency Agency.
In partnership with: National Union of Architects of Ukraine – NSAU, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU), Association of Cities of Ukraine, Confederation of Builders of Ukraine.
