OREANDA-NEWS. A reform of energy efficiency, having been implemented by the Ministry of Regional Development, Building, Housing and Utilities for the second year in a row, is among core ones in the draft Plan of Top Priority Actions for the Government in 2016. Ensuring energy independence of the state, pursuing a policy of energy conservation, reducing energy consumption by the private sector, thermal modernization of houses are in the focus for the Government. The achievements of 2015 include the adoption of a National Energy Efficiency Plan, the Law on ESCO, the launch of a Warm Loan program, from which 100 thousand families benefited, increasing twofold the number of apartments with installed heating meters.

2016 Action Plan for the Government contains a few defining points, which should be executed this year to ensure progress of the reform. This was stated by Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko.

He stressed that the first and topmost step in the framework of the reform is the establishment of the Energy Efficiency Fund. "The Fund will launch a transparent mechanism for funding projects aimed at reducing energy consumption. While the model of the Fund’s operation affords to apply to financing of energy efficiency projects cheap and long loans, donor and public funds to compensate the costs of energy efficiency measures, as well as economized funds from housing and utility subsidies. The saved funds in three to five years will amount to about 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Moreover, a new market for energy-efficient measures will be created and be characterized by a dynamic annual capacity up to EUR 1.5 billion", said Hennadii Zubko.

Among the objectives for 2016, according to the Vice Prime Minister, are the adoption of the law "On energy efficiency of buildings", the introduction of an energy efficiency certification system for buildings and increase in the number of buildings with near zero energy consumption. And most recently, the law "On revenue metering of utility services".