INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS THE BIGGEST RUSSIA’S POWER PLANT

Russian Social Ecological Union implements the information campaign "Energy efficiency is the biggest, cleanest and cheapest energy source in Russia." This campaign aims to show the public and other stakeholders that the potential resources of energy efficiency in our country can free up a huge amount of energy that can be used for the needs of power consumption. This is an energy source, and this source with regard to investments in energy efficiency is many times cheaper than building new power plants. Using that energy would be safer for the environment and the people, would allow reductions of polluting emissions to the atmosphere and greenhouse gases emissions that cause climate change. In 2009, the Federal Law on Energy Conservation was adopted, and the State program of energy conservation and energy efficiency for the period up to 2020 has been implemented since 2010. This is the first step in a very important direction, reducing the GDP energy intensity. The measures planned within the framework of the state program shall save (by 2020) 1.124 billion toe of primary energy, 330 billion cubic meters of natural gas, 630 billion kWh of electricity, 1550 mln Gcal of heat, and 17 million tons of oil products. The expected annual energy saving of electricity within the state program (63 billion kWh) exceeds the total planned annual production of biggest nuclear power plants in Russia (Leningrad and Kursk NPP produce 28 billion kWh per year each) and the capacity of the biggest thermal power station in Russia, the Surgut GRES (up to 39 billion kWh per year). It is already clear that the program is lagging behind the targets. Its acceleration needs a number of measures: the predictability of the rules of the game, proper development of the legislation, support for energy service companies, environmentally friendly technical standards, and priority credits to "green" projects from state banks. The Energy Efficiency Information Campaign is implemented in the regions of Russia by public organizations - members of the Social Ecological Union, together with partners interested in a broad public understanding of energy efficiency and its importance as a large, cheap, and clean source of energy, and in promoting the use of this resource in all areas of life. The campaign pilot regions are Bryansk and Leningrad regions, Primorsky Krai, Irkutsk and Kaliningrad regions, Karelia, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Sverdlovsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, Moscow, and Moscow region. Other regions also join the campaign. As the central event of the campaign, NGOs in all parts of Russia have organized press conferences and information actions devoted to the International Energy Conservation Day 11 of November, using the base campaign package and regional materials.  Main EE opportinities and benefits for Russia:

- Improving the competitiveness of Russian companies by saving energy costs;

- The federal and local governments would save $ 3 to 5 billion a year;

- Russia will reduce emissions of CO2, save the environment for its citizens and improve its environmental image abroad.

To achieve all objectives of the State program and to use energy resources that have not been involved yet, it is necessary to create conditions for cooperation between government agencies, businesses and the public to support and promote energy-efficient solutions at all levels. For more information please contact RSEU Climate Secretariat, www.rusecounion.ru, rseu.climate@gmail.com, tel.: +7 9219117986.