Construction is an industry that is constantly on the rise. The demand for residential, commercial, and recreational space, among others, is always present and supply follows. In the last six years alone (2013-2019), the turnover of the construction industry in Georgia has increased from GEL 4.6 billion to GEL 8.3 billion.
As the industry develops, so do the requirements regarding the quality buildings. Over the years, different definitions have been used to assess quality. Today, we can safely say that a quality home or building is one that can be described as energy efficient.
With the world facing climate change, it has become increasingly important to address carbon emissions in the building industry, which account for 39% of the world’s energy-related CO2 emissions. It is therefore vital to implement sound energy-efficiency measures at every stage of the building process, from construction to demolition, as this contributes to creating healthy and comfortable spaces for life, work, and play.
In today’s world, closer attention is paid to buildings, their construction and demolition, as well as the materials and equipment used during these processes. The sheer number of international and local certificates available proves that modern standards require that the impact of a building on the environment be taken into account not only during construction, but also in the planning and design phases. The goal today is to reduce CO2 emissions to the greatest extent possible.
Energy-efficiency in buildings is also gaining importance in Georgia. At the beginning of 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a law on energy-efficiency according to which all new buildings are required to meet set standards. It is worth mentioning that this law also applies to the planning phase of construction, in other words, energy-efficiency measures must be considered from the inception of a construction project.
Despite the obvious benefits to the environment, energy-efficiency is also a sound investment for businesses. Thanks to EE measures, a hotel located in the centre of Tbilisi saves approximately $6,300 on electricity bills each year, whereas a mall equipped with high-performing technologies saves approximately $240,000. EE is a lucrative, pay-back guarantee investment for any business that owns or plans to own a building.
Everything we do requires energy and as time goes by, we will need even more of it. Given that the world still uses non-renewable sources to acquire energy, it is important to effectively use the resources we still available. The recent increase in electricity rates further supports this view.
If you would like to learn more about energy efficiency in buildings, if you own or are planning to own a building, or if you are looking to invest in renovations of a building, attend a training offered by the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) entitled “Energy-efficient Green Buildings”. The training will be held on TBC Bank’s online learning platform on 2 March 2021 at16:00. Programme Expert Murad Kharaishvili will introduce you to the technologies available on the market that improve the quality of a building and of construction as well as show examples of energy-efficient buildings in Georgia and answer all your questions.
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