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🍃Rebuilding Ukraine: Energy Efficiency, Environmental Sustainability, and Innovative Solutions in Construction  

Projects aimed at ensuring the energy efficiency of buildings and structures, as well as construction products meeting the needs of such projects, were presented during the third discussion panel at the professional forum: MODERN SYSTEMS OF PROTECTION FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES, organized by the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine in collaboration with the Center for Waterproofing and Roofing.  

💬“Rebuilding better than before requires adherence to appropriate standards that meet the highest energy efficiency indicators, combined with modern architectural and engineering solutions. Our European partners are already providing support for Ukraine's recovery, envisioning it in the spirit of the New European Bauhaus – an initiative of the European Commission that brings together art, architecture, design, and science to create environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive spaces for the future,” said discussion moderator Svitlana Berzina, President of the NGO “Living Planet.”  

🤝Support for the implementation of energy-efficient construction projects with improved environmental characteristics is provided by the project "Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine" (Energy Efficiency and Climate Projects), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and co-financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Ms. Berzina presented recommendations and guides for clients, architects, and designers developed as part of the project activities.  

💬“Energy-efficient green recovery is our future,” emphasized Pavlo Kuzmenko, Mayor of Okhtyrka.  

The city of Okhtyrka suffered significant destruction during the full-scale invasion and is now actively engaged in rebuilding, ensuring energy supply, and thermally modernizing buildings. One of the major projects is the reconstruction of Lyceum No. 5 named after R.K. Rapiy, which was destroyed during bombings. The restoration of the lyceum became possible thanks to a project developed by Delta Projektconsult Ukraine LLC with the support of the "U-LEAD with Europe" program, funded by the EU and its member states, including Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Slovenia. The project's goal is not only to restore the destroyed building but also to create an innovative, safe, and inclusive space for modern learning.  

Thanks to the support of GIZ project consultants, the Okhtyrka City Council was able to draft a project design assignment that adhered to high standards of energy-efficient green construction.  

🏫 During the development of the reconstruction project, methodological recommendations titled “Fundamentals of Designing and Reconstructing Energy-Efficient School Buildings with Improved Environmental Characteristics” (2024) were taken into account. These guidelines were commissioned by the Ministry for Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine with the support of the GIZ project, in partnership with the NGO "Living Planet" and Nzeb Hub of KNUCA (Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture).  

After reconstruction, the lyceum will become barrier-free and equipped with lifts, ramps, and universal restrooms for children with special needs. Additionally, the lyceum will feature modern classrooms, multifunctional spaces, and a shelter that will serve as a safe haven during attacks and as a space for extracurricular activities in peaceful times.  

🍃 The project meets Class A energy efficiency standards and incorporates renewable energy solutions. A significant portion of the construction materials and products are certified under the environmental labeling standards in compliance with State Standards of Ukraine ISO 14024:2018. The project also integrates recycled plastic products, such as grass grids. Restrooms will feature a water reuse system, and the school premises will include a rainwater storage tank for irrigating green spaces. Waste sorting will be implemented during both the construction and operational phases of the project.  

“The combination of design solutions adopted for this project will enable the restored educational institution to meet the highest environmental standards, combining a more comfortable and safer environment with reduced electricity consumption and conservation of primary resources. As a doctor, I find it most important that this project will create a healthier environment for our children’s education,” concluded Pavlo Kuzmenko.  

🏗️ The large-scale rebuilding process requires substantial effort, time, and resources. In response to a request from the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, the GIZ project facilitated the development of typical designs for a kindergarten and a school.  

The features and advantages of these designs were presented by members of the design team — Serhiy Kozhedub, Ph.D., and Yevhen Kulinko from Nzeb Hub KNUСA.  

The Class A energy efficiency of the designed buildings and the improvement of their environmental characteristics were achieved through:  

🔸 minimizing thermal bridges by optimizing the shape of the building’s enclosing structures and reducing the number of thermally conductive elements on facades;  

🔸 enhancing the thermal insulation properties of enclosing structures, energy efficiency of lighting systems, and the building’s engineering systems;  

🔸 using alternative energy sources (integrating heat pumps into the building’s engineering systems);  

🔸 leveraging the thermal storage capacity of reinforced concrete structural elements (especially those of the shelter) as well as ceramic wall structures;  

🔸 using environmentally certified construction materials compliant with ISO 14024:2018;  

🔸 implementing solar protection systems to reduce energy consumption for cooling and air conditioning during warmer seasons;  

🔸 other measures.  

The presented reconstruction project for Lyceum No. 5 named after R.K. Rapiy in Okhtyrka, along with the typical designs for the kindergarten and school, successfully passed expert evaluation. This confirms the feasibility of implementing similar projects in Ukraine without changes to legislation or State construction standards.  

Moreover, the typical designs are available free of charge to all communities in need of rebuilding or new construction of children’s educational facilities.  

🍃During the discussion, Svitlana Berzina emphasized the importance of the market offering eco-certified construction products. She outlined the general requirements for ecological labeling standards of building materials and presented the GIZ project's initiative to create an electronic catalogue of building materials for implementing energy-efficient green construction projects.

Mykhailo Sak, Head of the Sales Department at TERVIKNOPLAST (VIKNAR'OFF), presented the company's products, which currently produce over 50,000 units per month, including windows, doors, balcony blocks, sliding systems, and complex configuration constructions. The company is actively developing, continuously updating its equipment and introducing new technologies to ensure the highest quality products. Thanks to constant equipment upgrades, including the new cutting-polishing machine ROTOX, specifically manufactured in Germany for VIKNAR'OFF, the company ensures high precision in welding and profile finishing. In March 2024, five window models and five door models with double-glazing from VIKNAR'OFF passed ecological certification according to State Standards of Ukraine ISO 14024 (certificate No. UA.08.002.569). The assessment was carried out by an expert commission from an accredited organization with international recognition. Eco-certified products do not contain chemicals classified as toxic to aquatic life, acutely toxic, dangerous for reproduction, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or harmful to the ozone layer. The eco-certified products are made from PVC profiles containing recycled material ranging from 10% to 41.5% (depending on the system). The double-glazing includes low-emission glass (emission coefficient 0.10). The service life of the products, as set by the manufacturer, is at least 10 years.

Volodymyr Kyrychok, Technical Support Manager at KERATERM, discussed European technologies for manufacturing KERATERM bricks that ensure low thermal conductivity, helping save on wall insulation. The hollow bricks have a capillary structure with "breathing" characteristics that protect against mold growth and improve the thermal insulation properties of the building. The company produces ceramic products without chemical additives, caring for the health of future residents.

Roman Zakharienkov, General Director of VIK BUD TRADE — a leader in the market of polystyrene foam for insulation — presented the company’s experience in ensuring energy efficiency in buildings. With reliable and consistent partners producing and supplying quality building materials, the company’s specialists provide consultation, assembly, and delivery of all necessary materials for facade insulation from their warehouse in Kyiv.

Vadym Lyubarskyi, Project Manager at TPK, one of the largest Ukrainian manufacturers of modern and high-tech roofing and facade materials, discussed the latest technologies for restoration and thermomodernization using facade systems. Over 27 years of stable and successful operation, the company has produced over 150 million square meters of roofing, facades, and sandwich panels, with more than 45,000 projects completed across the country.

🍃Dmytro Syrykh, Technical Director of the Energy Efficiency Fund, presented the EnergoDim (EnergyHome - eng) program aimed at supporting the energy modernization of multi-apartment buildings. He also discussed the GreenDim (GreenHome - eng) program, which encourages and supports homeowners' associations implementing measures to replace traditional energy sources with alternative ones, increasing energy independence. The main goal is to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity and heat production in Ukraine, as well as to enhance the energy efficiency and energy security of residential buildings.

✔️Summarizing the discussion, participants highlighted the prospects and potential of implementing energy-efficient green construction. Improved energy efficiency, modern materials, new communication systems, the presence of bomb shelters and reinforced parking lots — all of these require significant investments, but are financially justified in the long term, as they will improve the quality of life, reduce utility costs, and make housing safer.

Organizers: Confederation of Builders of Ukraine, Center for Waterproofing and Roofing

Strategic Partner: Penetron

Official Partners: Aquaizol, Group of companies MINOVA, BPA GmbH, Scientific and Production Association "Building Structure Protection Systems" LLC (ТОВ “НВО СЗБК”)

Information partners: All-Ukrainian NGO Living Planet, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Property Times, Build Portal, ProfBuild, Address Group, Ukrayinsky pohlyad, Vidbudova. Zaporizhzhia, Ohorona Praci, Marketer, Budynok, UAWEB, BIZRELIZ, Economist, Aspekty budivnytstva (Aspects of Construction Media)

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