OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2013. Over 1200 apartment buildings have been insulated in the residential stock to improve energy efficiency. This was announced by Vice Prime Minister Olexandr Vilkul.

"80% of apartment buildings were built in Ukraine in the 80-es of the last century and they lose up to 60 % of heat. Projects of insulation of buildings, as well as installation of heat meters will reduce heat consumption in 1.5-2 times and thus personal consumption expenditures. Over 1200 apartment buildings have been insulated. Currently, works are ongoing in more than 900 apartment buildings," Vice Prime Minister said.

He noted that Ukraine, which is modernizing housing and utility sector, is one of the most promising European markets for energy saving technologies. Government's position is to support the Ukrainian producers and attract foreign companies to accommodate their productions in the country. And the holding of the IX International Congress Institutional and Technical Aspects of Housing and Utilities Infrastructure is an essential element for the creation of effective communication platform between experts to develop these common steps.

"This year, a set of measures of redevelopment of residential buildings, as well as the replacement and reconstruction of boilers (at more than 2700 boilerhouses), replacement of heating systems (478 km) could reduce the consumption of natural gas by district heating companies by 8%. It is an important component of national strategy regarding energy saving and energy efficiency," Olexandr Vilkul said.

"In developing Housing and Utilities Infrastructure modernization projects best international experience is used, particularly of Eastern Europe, where during the Soviet era buildings were built on the same projects as in Ukraine," Olexandr Vilkul said.

"The participation of citizens – owners of buildings in the modernization of the Housing and Utilities Infrastructure is important. Therefore, one of the priorities facing the region is the establishment of effective ownership of property – condominiums, and the active position of regions in the development and implementation of their own projects in this field. Currently 209 regional projects are being implemented," Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services Gennady Temnyk said.

During the Congress topical issues of modernization of the Housing and Utilities Infrastructure were discussed and best practices of Europe and Asia were considered, in particular in the implementation of energy efficient technologies. Following the Congress a Declaration of proposals to improve state policy in the Housing and Utilities Infrastructure and modernization of the sector has been adopted. Congress was attended by over 200 participants from 19 countries - manufacturers, service providers of utilities, researchers, government representatives.