This year, Belarus is once again observing the International Day of Energy Saving.
Energy saving plays a crucial role in preserving natural resources, and this day provides an excellent opportunity to discuss energy-saving methods at home and in the office, energy-efficient technologies, and renewable energy sources.
Vitebsk region, recognized as the best region in the Republic of Belarus in the field of energy saving based on the results of the national competition for the "Energy Efficiency Leader of the Republic of Belarus – 2023" award for energy efficiency, resource saving, and environmental friendliness, is actively participating in the celebration.
In the sphere of energy saving, the region is addressing several strategic objectives, such as reducing the energy intensity of manufactured products, which enhances their competitiveness, and decreasing the republic's energy dependence on imported energy resources by maximizing the involvement of local energy resources in the fuel balance, including production waste, secondary energy resources, and the use of energy from renewable sources.
Thanks to the systematically implemented work on the State Program "Energy Saving" for 2021–2025, during the period from 2021 to January-September 2024, 380.7 thousand tons of conventional fuel were saved in the region, exceeding the five-year plan target of 299 thousand tons of conventional fuel by 127.3%. By the end of the current year, the share of local energy resources in the total balance of boiler and furnace fuel for housing and communal services organizations has reached 74.7%. The indicator for replacing heat networks with pre-insulated pipes constitutes 80.1% of the total length. The region's hydroelectric power plants generate approximately 250 million kWh per year, substituting 77 million m3 of natural gas.
For the period from 2021 to January-June 2024, the actual fulfillment amounted to 423.29 thousand tons of conventional fuel.
The region's education system cultivates skills for the careful and economical use of energy resources, playing a leading role in shaping an "energy-efficient" worldview among the younger generation. The national competition "Energy Marathon," which is gaining increasing popularity among the younger generation of Vitebsk region, holds a significant place in this process.
Energy conservation is the main tool for ensuring the state's energy security. Energy security implies the protection of the country and its citizens from the threat of energy deficit, as well as from disruptions in the stability and uninterrupted supply of fuel and energy.
“The declared Year of Quality undoubtedly indicates that raising the quality of life is prioritized in the national economy. Thus, all new energy-efficient technologies make our lives easier. At the same time, energy security is inextricably linked with environmental security, and this is also an important factor that influences the life of every citizen of Belarus” (Tatyana Zorina, Head of the Laboratory “Sustainable Energy Development” of the Institute of Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the Institute).
Studies on the impact of energy conservation policies on Belarus's economic development indicators and the socio-economic situation of the population, conducted by the Institute, allow us to conclude that the policy pursued within the framework of the state program "Energy Conservation" has yielded quite serious results for the population over many years – people are spending part of their income on energy-saving measures.
Energy conservation is not only fashionable but also important for our planet!
The Vitebsk Regional Department for Supervision of the Rational Use of Fuel and Energy Resources of the Department for Energy Efficiency congratulates everyone on the International Energy Conservation Day and thanks every resident of the region who is concerned about saving and rational use of energy resources.