On 15 June 2017, the Sustainable Development and Policy (SDAP) Center organized the conference dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency issues within the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Rustavi City Municipality.

Climatic changes and energy efficiency are the themes which meaning today is becoming increasingly important. “Save energy, take care of nature, try to use a renewable and clean source of energy” – is the motto of the sustainable energy annual weeks.

Rustavi, as a signatory city of the Covenant of Mayors has committed to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020, and introduce renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in its social and economic development practices.

Starting from 2011, events have been organized annually in Rustavi to raise public awareness of towards energy efficiency.

The director of the SDAP, Karine Melikidze, presented their EU funded project — Retrofitting 3 kindergartens in Rustavi City in order to achieve high energy efficiency standards and greenhouse emission reduction. This project is focused on implementation of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) under the Covenant of Mayors and is mainly financed by the European Union under the CoMDeP (Covenant of Mayors Demonstration Projects) programme.

Rustavi City Municipality contributes 20.06% of the total project budget, with the remaining 79. 94% share coming from the EU Commission. The project aims to rehabilitate 3 kindergarten buildings (#6, #40, #41) in Rustavi, with modern energy efficient measures and installation of renewable energy technologies. It will help local authorities to target energy efficiency, and enhance energy security and economic growth.

At this stage the energy efficient reconstruction of the kindergartens #6 and #40 in Rustavi has been completed. The rehabilitation of the third, #41 kindergarten will be finished in August.

 After the conference, the participants visited the kindergarten #6 and viewed the children’s drawings exhibition.

The representatives of Bolnisi, Marneuli, Tsalka, Dmanisi and Gardabani municipalities attended the event.