Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Tashkent hosted a conference on the topic "Introduction of energy efficient and low-carbon technologies in building design". The event was organized by the Urban Planning Wave association under the Yuksalish Nationwide Movement with the financial support of Hisense HVAC.

The conference at one site brought together about a hundred representatives of the architectural and construction industry, parliament, business associations, international organizations, students of specialized universities, and experts.

As noted, the topic of green building, ecology, green areas and sustainable urban development is acute in our time. Faced with the growing threat of global climate change, the depletion of natural resources and the collapse of the global ecosystem, the global construction industry in particular is currently undergoing an unprecedented test of strength.

According to the forecasts of the Strategy and Research Department of RB Asia, by 2030 the size of the energy market in Uzbekistan will almost double. As for the growth rate, the volume of electricity production in the country over the past ten years has grown by 24 percent, compared to 2017, production increased by 3.6 percent. According to approximate estimates of experts, the shortage of electricity in the republic is 14 percent, as a result of which part of the population experiences a shortage of it.

According to the World Bank, the buildings sector accounts for 50 percent of total final energy consumption. For heating - about 70 percent of all energy consumption in district hospitals, 84 - in preschool organizations, 88 - in rural clinics and 97 - in schools. Accelerated industrialization and stable population growth significantly increase the economy’s need for energy resources, as well as increase the negative anthropogenic impact on the environment.

The conference addressed issues of energy efficiency in the design and installation of ventilation and air conditioning systems, the impact of climate change on the design of buildings and structures, especially in dry and hot climates, as well as mechanisms for financing small businesses to introduce green technologies.

In addition, the interim results of a UNDP project aimed at transitioning Uzbekistan’s rapidly developing rural housing sector to a more sustainable development path, reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions, were presented.

Thus, in 2019, in five regions of the republic, based on the proposals of the Qishloq Qurilish Loyiha Design Institute, 21 rural houses were built on the basis of standard projects. This spring, in the Yoshlik mahalla of the city of Nurafshon, Tashkent region, the first demonstration house in Uzbekistan was built at the expense of UNDP and GEF, which consumes a small amount of energy, produces it itself, and is provided with hot water and does not lose heat. It is so modernized and well-designed that it is able to provide the needs of residents with alternative electricity and, accordingly, all the benefits associated with its use.

According to the participants, it is necessary to pay great attention to the conservation of energy and other resources in Uzbekistan. This is dictated by the environmental situation in the country and the world. Of course, energy efficient solutions are not always cheaper than traditional technologies, but they pay off in the long run, make businesses more resilient to crisis situations, and sometimes they are the only reasonable solution, for example, in rural areas. It is important that energy saving and environmental protection are seen as a serious competitive advantage in the market.