Georgian towns host energy awareness raising event for ethnic groups

The Energy Efficiency Centre Georgia (EECG) has recently organised ‘Intelligent Energy Days’ in two Georgian towns, Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe, to increase awareness about energy saving issues and facilitate the involvement of ethnic groups in civic engagement. The event was held as part of the EU-funded INOGATE project, Energy Saving Initiative in the Building Sector in Eastern Europe and the Central Asian Countries (ESIB).

According to an ESIB press release, the event included presentation of the ESIB project and energy saving measures in buildings; provision of pre-energy audit and the introduction of energy efficiency measures and a showing of Yann Arthus Bertrand’s film called ‘HOME’.

At the beginning of the seminars, a representative of the EECG gave an introductory multimedia presentation on the ESIB project, including the aims and scope of the project as well as on specific energy-saving measures in buildings (weatherisation of walls, doors/windows, floor, attics; information on energy efficiency/ECO bulbs). After the presentation, ESIB National Coordinator George Abulashvili introduced the audience to the basic concepts of how to do pre-energy audits and introduce energy efficiency measures.

Overall, 70 people took part in the event, including staff of centres for civic engagement in Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe, representatives of local non-governmental and governmental organisations, students, local media and the general public.

There is low awareness about energy saving issues and insufficient information about low cost energy efficiency measures in buildings not only among urban but also among rural Georgians, including ethnic Azeris and Armenians.

The ˆ5 million ESIB project supports partner countries in ensuring improved control over energy consumption in the building sector through energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energy.

INOGATE is an EU-funded programme promoting international energy co-operation between the European Union and the Partner Countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. It works to support the EU policy frameworks of the Baku Initiative, the Eastern Partnership – Energy Security Platform and the Energy Community. (ENPI Info Centre)



EU grant to strengthen Public Defender Office in Georgia

A new grant that will contribute to strengthening the Public Defender Office in Georgia has been signed this week as part of the EU-funded Comprehensive Institution Building Programme, a press release from the EU Delegation in Tbilisi has said.

In total, a support of ˆ1.2 million will help to establish a more effective handling of individual complaints, and increase awareness of human rights among state institutions and Georgian citizens.

For the next three years until 2015, the grant will directly benefit persons placed in detention centres, and other structures like child-care or psychiatric institutions.

The ˆ9.7 million Comprehensive Institution Building Programme that was signed in April this year will contribute to building stronger institutions for successful negotiations on future agreements between the European Union and Georgia.
(EU Neighbourhood Info)