Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) Clean Energy Program Project Proposal: Full and Energy Efficient Restoration Programme of Municipal Buildings in Tbilisi City

The programme is part of the EC-LEDS Clean Energy Program, a cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development and Winrock International in cooperation with Sustainable Development Center "Remissia". Tbilisi city has joined the EU-initiated Covenant of Mayors, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020. The city's Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) identifies the building sector, including municipal buildings, as a crucial component of sustainable energy development. The total area of residential living space in Tbilisi is approximately 37 million square meters, with 10-12% of this area consisting of historic buildings that require preservation of authenticity. The majority of residential properties in Tbilisi are block buildings constructed in the 1960s or later, known as "Khrushchev apartments," with an operational cycle of 25-30 years. A database compiled by the Sustainable Development Centre - Remisia contains information on 418 municipal buildings, including theatres, art schools, kindergartens, sports academies, stadiums, medical establishments, libraries, and others. However, the database lacks essential information on the dates of commencement of exploitation, which is necessary for assessing costs involved in restoration. The research indicates that municipal buildings in Georgia have a degree of commonality based on their functional purposes, but specific characteristics emerge due to geographical spread and climate variables. Most buildings are characterized by high heat wastage, with energy wastage associated with inappropriate design of the building envelope and exploitation. New constructions direct significant resources into municipal projects, such as road infrastructure and tunnels, funded by local authorities. The table and drawing presented in the document outline indicators of municipal buildings of differing purposes. The research has identified kindergartens as a priority target for the pilot project, as they have a 49% share in the total area of municipal buildings. Other groups of buildings, such as fitness and wellness centers and medical establishments, are also identified as potential targets. According to the 2011 Sustainable Energy Development Action Plan for Tbilisi city, the total reduction of emissions from the building sector should have been 182 Gg annually by 2020. However, the monitoring report on the SEAP implementation in 2015 revealed that the emission was twofold higher (1624 Gg) than initially planned, with the largest growth rate of 44% coming from the building sector. The total savings did not exceed 16 Gg of CO2, representing only 8.5% reduction of originally planned estimated numbers.