Bishkek Kyrgyzstan – Specialists of the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Utilities (Gosstroy) under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic attended the technical workshop “Quality Control of Energy Performance Certificates”.
The workshop was organised jointly by the Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Union’s SECCA project. The participants learned international experience in the legal framework and institutional arrangements regarding Energy Performance Certification (EPC) of buildings, as well as Quality Control of EPC.
Kyrgyzstan relies on oil and gas imports for more than half of its energy needs, particularly during the winter months when hydropower production is low. At the same time, according to IEA (2020), electricity consumption per capita increased by more than 45% from 2010 to 2018 in the country. Residential sector is the largest energy consuming sector[1]. Producing more energy locally and improving energy efficiency are among the Kyrgyz government’s priorities to improve the country’s energy security and reduce costs.
EPC of buildings provides information on the energy efficiency of buildings and recommendations for cost-effective improvements. In 2011, Kyrgyzstan adopted the Law “On Energy Efficiency of Buildings”. The Bylaw on Energy Performance Certification of buildings was also adopted the following year. Furthermore, there the state registries of the issued energy performance certificates and energy performance certification specialists. Since November 2021, Gosstroy has been continuously conducting qualification certification of specialists in energy certification of buildings and periodic monitoring of boilers, heating systems and hot water supply of buildings.
At present, the government aims to further improve the current system and use new construction technologies and alternative energy sources to attract investments, protect the environment and reduce harmful emissions.
During the workshop, the participants reviewed the role of EPC of buildings and current process in Kyrgyzstan with its challenges and problems. They then moved on to discuss the overall approach and main elements of quality control of EPC, also by studying the experience of EU Member States and Energy Community Contracting Parties. As quality control is one of the ways trust in this tool could be created and maintained, the discussion concluded with proposals for an improved approach to EPC quality control, its main elements and alternative options or implementation models. The SECCA project will continue working with local institutions and experts and providing technical support for the improvement of current system of EPC quality control.
[1] International Energy Agency (2020), Kyrgyz Republic Energy Profile, https://www.iea.org/reports/kyrgyzstan-energy-profile, April 2020.
