At the moment, the world opened its eyes to another important problem - energy conservation. At a time when fossil resources are rising in price, wasteful energy consumption creates economic dissonance. This creates the demand for energy efficiency of buildings, and, accordingly, investments. When the energy-consuming country lacks finance for the necessary insulation of buildings - the system enters into a system of ESCO-contracts.

What do you need to know about ESCO contracts?

These contracts are aimed at optimizing the use of energy resources by consumers. Among other advantages, it should be noted that these agreements promote the modernization of state energy equipment under favorable material conditions for both users and the state. Under these contracts, ESCO-companies undertake to fulfill a wide range of tasks (modernization of the heating system, insulation and lighting of building structures) through credit investments from international financial institutions. In the future, due to the reduction of heat energy use, the loan is paid to investors (heating service users pay the same rate until the credit investments are reimbursed). As a rule, such contracts are signed for five to ten years.

Today, tenders in electronic platforms, where the project receives the one who is ready to implement it at a more favorable price - are gaining in popularity. The ESCO-contract process is a bit different. Now the main emphasis in choosing an executor is not on the cost of services, but on the proposal to improve energy efficiency. Other conditions, such as warranties and control over the fulfillment of contract terms between the customer and the performer, remain unchanged.

Who benefits?

The answer to this question can be illustrated by the case of life. Four hundred thousand people are allocated to the heat supply of one state educational institution per month, and after the beginning of rational energy consumption, expenditures are reduced by half - up to two hundred thousand hryvnias. A dream or a unique opportunity to save state budgets? The winner is all: the state, lenders who are guaranteed to receive their investments, business, and, above all, residents of buildings, which can save money on improvement of other spheres of life by the authorities for the saved funds.

What does it get from business?

Due to the fact that the investment takes place under guarantees from the authorities, the business receives the necessary payments from the state fund, which is replenished due to the saving of budget money. So, everyone is left with his own: the business is guaranteed to receive back their investments, the state saves energy, but also, accordingly, large sums of money, and the inhabitants of the state have an energy efficient home and an increase in the quality of social standards. This system has already been noticed by more than 20 Ukrainian cities. During the last season, 316 trades took place and three ESCO contracts were successfully implemented. By the end of the year, Ukraine plans to conclude another 260 such contracts.

At the moment, the Kirovograd Oblast has been the most energy-savvy, because all implemented projects are currently owned by it. Among the most active followers, Dubno, Chervonograd and Slavutych can be singled out. There is also one more tendency to conclude ESCO-tenders in the public procurements system Transparent. At present, about 80% of them are located on the electronic trading platform SmartTender.biz, which is also aimed at developing and promoting ESCO-activities. We hope that Ukrainians will soon see the results of all projects on smart energy use.