Maintenance and Repair as a Key Tool for Energy-Efficient Management of Public Buildings
Energy-efficient operation of buildings must become an integral part of Ukraine’s modern energy policy. Proper maintenance, timely repairs, and systematic energy management help preserve the results of modernization and transform one-time projects into sustainable energy management practices.
During the training session “Maintenance and Repair as a Tool for Energy-Efficient Management of Public Buildings,” organized by GIZ Ukraine, Nataliia Porokhniuk, Head of the Energy Audit and Management Unit of the Energy Efficiency Development Department at the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of a systematic approach to building management, the need to introduce regular maintenance, and the use of modern energy management tools:
“Ukraine is consistently implementing European approaches in the field of energy efficiency. We are adapting EU directives, developing municipal energy planning, and modernizing legislation in building management. This is not merely a technical reform — it is part of our movement towards the European Union, where energy efficiency is a fundamental value of sustainable development.”
As of April 1, 2025, Ukraine has introduced requirements for buildings with nearly zero energy consumption. This marks an important step toward alignment with European decarbonization and energy efficiency policies.
Another strategic milestone was the establishment of the National Database of Energy and Operational Characteristics of Buildings, which has been functioning within the Unified State Electronic System in the Construction Sector (USESCS) since March 2025. As of October 2025, more than 23,000 building energy performance certificates have been registered in the system.
However, buildings remain among the largest consumers of energy resources:
in Ukraine, average annual thermal energy consumption is about 230 kWh/m²;
in EU countries, it is only 90–120 kWh/m².
This indicates that Ukraine has substantial potential for improvement.
What do proper maintenance and operation provide?
When a building is modernized — insulated, with replaced windows, upgraded heating or ventilation systems — but is not properly maintained afterwards, the achieved effect can be lost. Therefore, maintenance, repair, and systematic energy management must be integral parts of the overall process.
To ensure economic efficiency of investments and reliable operation, it is necessary to:
regularly service engineering networks and equipment;
monitor the operation of heating, ventilation, and hot water supply systems;
control the condition of insulated façades, joints, and window structures;
implement energy management that enables prompt response to deviations.
The State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine continues working to create favorable conditions for supporting communities in this area — from adapting legislation to implementing concrete energy efficiency projects, including those carried out together with international partners, particularly our partner GIZ.
We express our sincere gratitude to the organizers, experts, and participants who are making efforts to ensure that our country’s energy system becomes more resilient, modern, and European.