Opinions & Interviews

GRODNO, 18 December (BelTA) – By building energy efficient houses, Belarus makes the first steps towards a green economy, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Belarus Yekaterina Paniklova said at the ceremony to launch the construction of the second energy efficient house in Grodno on 18 December, BelTA has learned.

Yekaterina Paniklova noted that she had been to Grodno several times before. The city was the first stop on the journey of the UN 70 Belarus Express. Foreign guests were greatly impressed with the regional capital.

Yekaterina Paniklova also pointed out that the Paris Climate Change Conference ended a week ago. A Belarusian delegation attended the event. The conference focused on protecting the planet from harmful impacts. The countries that took part in the conference assumed certain obligations to save the planet for future generations. Yekaterina Paniklova believes that the construction of the energy efficient house contributes to the implementation of the decisions of the Paris conference.

For his part, Deputy Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Deshko said that a similar energy efficient house was built in Grodno with UNDP’s financial assistance. He believes that the construction of new-generation homes with modern energy-saving technologies will help the city cut its utility expenses. The second energy efficient house is expected to be commissioned in 2017.

The ceremony was attended by delegations of Belarus and Poland that took part in a twin-town meeting on 18 December. Attending the event also was UNDP/GEF Project Manager Alexander Grebenkov.