AN ANALYSIS OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING ENVELOPE OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF THE SOVIET AND POST-SOVIET PERIODS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The need to analyze the regulatory framework governing the energy efficiency of the building envelope of residential premises is associated with the existence of a significant number of dwellings built during the Soviet era in Ukraine, which currently makes up the lion's share of the entire existing housing stock. The high pace of mass construction at that time was achieved through the speed of assembly work, the simplicity of the materials, and the unpretentious nature of the structures; consequently, energy efficiency was never a priority. Upon Ukraine's independence and the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, energy tariffs began to increase, which led to the need to build according to different standards. Beginning in 1994, a new regulatory framework of independent Ukraine began to take shape, starting with legislative acts. This, in turn, resulted in the creation of relevant government agencies and new energy-saving requirements, which began to be implemented in the construction sector. And while modern regulatory requirements for energy efficiency in new construction take into account the need to save energy, such requirements are not practically available in the Soviet regulatory framework, as its analysis has shown. This key factor must be taken into account in future studies of the condition of residential buildings. Consequently, the housing stock built since Ukraine gained independence differs significantly from the Soviet-era stock in terms of energy saving. Studying, understanding, and addressing the issue of low energy efficiency in the obsolete housing stock will enable a rational approach to the implementation of thermal modernization, taking into account modern construction materials and construction technologies. After all, carrying out thermal modernization work on existing housing on a nationwide scale will allow, firstly, a significant reduction in the load on energy networks and, secondly, a significant reduction in energy consumption and heating and air conditioning costs. The long period of Soviet-era construction left behind hundreds of millions of square meters of housing stock that is both structurally and physically dilapidated. It constitutes a significant part and requires major thermal retrofitting and the costs associated with implementing this project. Part of the Soviet-era housing stock has already reached the standard depreciation period, and the question of whether it remains feasible to continue operating these buildings and whether they can be modernized remains a pressing issue. In addressing this issue, attention should be paid both to the existing experience of implementing thermal modernization solutions by Ukrainian associations of co-owners of multi-apartment buildings and to the experience of the countries of the former Warsaw Pact.