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UNDP/GEF Efficient Lighting Project in Russia
Today, approximately 14% of Russia’s overall electric energy consumption is from lighting, which is equivalent to 137 billion KWh per year. The total energy savings potential from lighting is estimated at over 40% or 57 billion KWh per year. The UNDP/GEF “Transforming the Market for Efficient Lighting in Russia Project” was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve energy efficiency related to lighting.
The Project advances the transformation of the national lighting market by promoting efficient technologies such as LEDs, CFLs and other innovative lighting systems and will address harmonization of energy efficiency standards. It is expected that within ten years after completion of the project, Russia will be able to capture 60% of its energy savings potential in the lighting sector, which amounts to almost 30 billion KWh per year and annual reductions of 15.5 million tons of CO2.
The Project is focused on achieving the following:
(1) Improved standards and policy framework for the promotion of energy efficient technologies: Instruments and policy frameworks will be introduced at the federal level to initiate and facilitate a market transformation including designing and introducing standards for lighting products; and updating existing regulations. In 2011, the Project helped in gaining approval for a government decree that introduced minimum energy performance requirements to reduce poor quality products in the market.
(2) Increased support for manufacturing efficient lighting products: This will target improved domestic production with methodologies being developed for testing lighting products. Last year, an assessment of Russian test laboratories revealed that the labs lacked capacity to control the energy efficiency claims of local and imported products. In 2012, the Project will seek international cooperation for random tests and for identifying suppliers of high quality test equipment for lab modernization.
(3) Pilot project for improving indoor lighting in Moscow residential and public buildings: This includes the distribution of 200,000 – 300,000 CFL lamps to households and the organization of awareness-raising campaigns with the support of the Moscow government. Work is also underway to modernize the interior lighting in schools.
(4) Energy efficient street lighting: Pilot projects are being undertaken in the Volga Federal District with further replication across the country. The energy savings potential is close to 40%.
Communications activities surrounding the Project have been strong. The “2011 Russian Lighting Market Monitoring Report” was prepared based on statistical and customs data. Additionally, an expert online community entitled “The National Platform for Lighting” has been created to unite leading Russian specialists and professionals in the field and operates via exchange of solutions on the internet.
The Project has also been promoted through a number of events, including the International LED Forum in Moscow, Lighting Engineers Day and meetings with the mass media. These events demonstrate the growing interest of specialists and the general public about the Project’s activities. There has been particular interest in the lighting of schools, the disposal and safety of energy saving lamps, as well as how to choose the correct energy efficient lighting technology.
Russia is an active participant in the en.lighten initiative. They are a Partner in the en.lighten Global Efficient Lighting Partnership Program and provide expertise on the Policy Taskforce. The Senior Science Advisor attended the recent Project Steering Committee meeting as an observer and there has been ongoing communications with country representatives on a number of topics such as; accreditation communications activities and awareness-raising initiatives.
For more information, go to www.undp-light.ru
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