20 multi-apartment buildings have been improved through the efforts of HFH Armenia
Aspiring to find a solution to the problems of management and maintenance of residential buildings Habitat for Humanity Armenia organized a round-table discussion devoted to the problems in this field and to the measures taken towards efficient solutions. The main objective of the round table was to bring together key players as well as main stakeholders of the sector to jointly discuss projects in renovation of common spaces of residential buildings, energy upgrades and further steps.
The experience gained during the implementation of Habitat for Humanity Armenia’s projects was presented at the event and the ways to overcome the existing obstacles were discussed. Participants of the round table also had an opportunity to learn more about foreign experience in energy efficiency renovations and about the achievements of energy efficiency projects of Habitat for Humanity Armenia. Within the framework of the projects aimed at common spaces renovation and energy efficiency upgrade 20 multi-apartment buildings have been improved. So far, AMD 50 mln was invested in this work in close cooperation with the Municipalities of Yerevan and Vanadzor, “Inecobank” CJSC and homeowner associations.
Luiza Vardanyan, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity Armenia said, “Habitat for Humanity Armenia started the implementation of its first project in the field of maintenance and management of multi-apartment buildings in 2011. At present we have three active projects and within these projects we cooperate with municipalities, homeowner associations, financial institutions and others. One of our priorities is to create functional financial models as well as to unite different players in the sector so that the management and maintenance of residential buildings are carried out quickly and efficiently.”
Harutyun Khachatryan, the head of the unit working with Homeowners’ Associations of Communal Department of Yerevan Municipality noted: “This year Yerevan Municipality planned to perform renovation of entrances in 898 multi-apartment buildings. We have already renovated 800 entrances and Habitat for Humanity Armenia has its share in it. The present financial model is acceptable for us and in the upcoming year we are planning to include more buildings in our joint project.”
Lilia Azatyan, the senior engineer of “Taron” homeowner association, noted that works on energy efficiency and renovation of common spaces were performed in one building of their condominium in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity Armenia. Homeowners are pleased with the results and plan to submit applications to renovate other buildings as well.
Yevgenya Atayan, an advisor at the Department of Housing Policy and Utilities Infrastructure of the Ministry of Urban Development of the Republic of Armenia, noted: “The problems in this field will be solved more easily if the residents are careful towards not only their apartment but the building as well and consider both as their property.”Within the framework of the project of “Residential Energy Efficiency for Low-income Households” Habitat for Humanity Armenia has launched a new website www.taqtun.am which makes it possible to get familiar with the process of application for the project as well as to get information on the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the buildings.
Residential Energy Efficiency for Low-income Households project is one of the many assistance projects supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 1992, the American people through USAID have provided a broad range of development programs in Armenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, shifting from an initial humanitarian emphasis to assistance for economic, political and social transition.
