Project Results
Previously, in February - March 2021, for the good implementation of the project, organizational, coordination and monitoring activities were carried out: the implementation team of 5 people was created by order no. 05/1 from 01.03. 2021 for the implementation of Project MDA / SGP / OP7 / Y1 CORE / CCA / 2021/38 "Efficiency of public infrastructure in the Ungheni Vale neighborhood", funded by the Global Environment Facility. The project documents were studied, the responsibilities of the implementation team members were distributed; in accordance with the project activity plan, the Management / Monitoring Plan and the calendar of project activities for the period 12 February 2021? 28 February 2022 were elaborated. The implementation team met monthly in 12 monitoring sessions where the issues regarding the implementation of the project activities were discussed in accordance with the Management Plan and the Calendar of project activities. The following activities were carried out within the project: Act.3.1 / Elaboration of the technical documentation and the specifications; Act.3.2 / Launch of the auction; Act. 3.3 / Execution of works and installation of the remote management system; Act.4.1 / Preparation of the kick-off event and final conference of the project; Act.4.3 / Organizing eco-meetings with citizens; Act.4.4 / Preparing the application and evaluation of the questionnaire for the energy audit of the house, elaboration of the report based on the collected data; Act.4.5 / Elaboration and dissemination of informational and promotional materials; Act.4.6 / Establishment and functioning of the Working Group for updating the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan / PAEDC; Act. 5.2 Updating and approving the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan/ PAEDC.
According to the calendar of activities, at the beginning of June 2021 the works for the installation of an energy efficient street lighting system in the Ungheni Vale District started, which were completed at the end of September 2021: 185 metal consoles, 185 luminaires with LED bulbs, 25 pillars, 5.7 km of new electrical networks, 1 remote management system were installed. As a result 2264 inhabitants have access to efficient street lighting services.
Citizens (young people, women, people with disabilities) were very involved in the process of organizing and carrying out information, awareness and consultation activities, participating in eco-meetings and completing questionnaires for energy audits of the house. These activities have offered them the opportunities for direct involvement through individual energy saving initiatives, as well as in the process of updating the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan for the years 2021-2030.
The project strengthened the collaboration relations between citizens, Ungheni City Hall & Municipal Council and various civil society organizations: PA Regional Centre for Sustainable Development, PA JCI - Junior Chamber Ungheni, 7 Local Initiative Groups from Ungheni municipality, including Local Initiative Group ?Pyretus? from Ungheni Vale District, as well as the other 6 Local Initiative Groups from Ungheni municipality.
The project has substantially contributed to raising the awareness of Ungheni citizens on local and global environmental issues, as they are involved in all activities, informed and aware of the need to save energy and use alternative energy resources.
Long-term benefits:
Ensuring the continuity of the project ?Efficiency of public infrastructure in the Ungheni Vale neighborhood" began before its completion, being given the start of 2 other projects: the project ?Modernization of public lighting in Ungheni" financed by Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) in a total amount of 7,058,665 lei, of which NEFCO credit - 6,352,220 lei, which will contribute to the efficiency of the street lighting system by installing about 300 new pillars, changing the network of electrical wires, with a length of about 30 kilometers and installing 2680 new lighting fixtures, LED type.
Also, have began the implementation of the Project ?The Intelligent Public Lighting Control System in Ungheni city?, in a total amount 50,000 USD, including 10,000 USD contribution of Ungheni City Hall (partners: Ungheni City Hall, UNDP, Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Republic, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic).
The sustainability of the project is ensured by the Municipal Services of the City Hall of Ungheni, in the program of activity which, in order to sustain the investment, includes a series of activities for renewing and maintaining the street lighting system installed within the project implemented. Particularly important is the updated Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (2021 ? 2030) which includes various measures / activities and projects on energy efficiency in the municipality of Ungheni.
Being a successful project, in 2023 we will present it at the contest "Program of good practices of local public authorities" implemented by IDIS Viitorul starting in 2007 with the financial support of the Council of Europe. We believe that this project can be taken over by other communities in the Republic of Moldova, to which we will openly recommend it.
New developments / achievements and unexpected difficulties / problems:
The innovation of the project results in the modernization of the electricity network in the Ungheni Vale neighborhood of Ungheni municipality by installing an efficient street lighting system and a remote management system, the effects of the investment being demonstrated by saving energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. As a result of an analysis of electricity consumption for the period October - December 2020 (8.5 hours per night) and for the same period of 2021 (11 hours per night) there was a reduction in electricity consumption of at 9.14 kWt / hour up to 5.82 kWt / hour and savings of 7.70 lei / hour (39.6%). Along with the decrease in electricity consumption, implicitly, there is a reduction in CO2 emissions in the Ungheni Vale neighborhood by 9.53 tons per year.
From the sources saved on some budget lines, in addition to the activities provided by the project, 2 mobile phones and phone cards were purchased to ensure the monitoring of the installed remote management system. In order to ensure the safety of the anti-Covid-19 participants in the process of carrying out the project activities, masks and disinfectants were purchased.
We had only one difficulty in the process of implementing the project related to the organization and conduct of the launch and final conferences which, due to the high degree of spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, were made online.
Observations/Lessons Learnt:
Lesson 1. We had a very good experience of implementing an integrated project, whose activities focused on protecting the environment and improving the living conditions of citizens in the Ungheni Vale neighborhood of Ungheni city, where by improving the street lighting system, are ensured energy savings and reducing of CO2 emissions, that makes the environment healthier.
Lesson 2. Within the integrated project, the collaboration between the citizens of Ungheni Vale neighborhood and the project partners was developed: PA Regional Centre for Sustainable Development, PA JCI - Junior Chamber Ungheni, 7 Local Initiative Groups from Ungheni municipality, including Local Initiative Group ?Pyretus?, which denotes the major interest, involvement and civic participation in solving concrete problems faced by residents of a distinct area of the city.
Lesson 3. Participation of citizens in project activities (eco-meetings, energy audits of housing updating Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan), prove that they care about the city where they live and are involved in the decision-making process at the local level.
