Energy Saving News
Medvedev Orders Energy Saving Audit for Russia
ENERGY efficiency is a challenge for every country but probably none more so than Russia – the country covers over 6.5 million square miles and spans 11 times zones!
The governmental system, which as we all know went through a major upheaval just a few years ago, consists of 83 regions including 21 republics, 4 autonomous districts, 9 territories, two federal cities (Moscow and St Petersburg) and one autonomous region!
This is not a geography lesson but these facts highlight the challenge facing the Russian Governement when it comes to concerted and joined up energy efficiency measures.
Hence, the news that Russia’s President, Dmitry Medvedev, has signed an order to evaluate energy effectiveness and energy saving policies in Russia’s regions, is good news but also is a huge commitment to get a handle on what is happening, so they can act to become energy efficient and save money.
Medvedev said yesterday at a meeting on modernisation and technology development of Russia’s economy: “I would like to inform you that I have signed an order to evaluate energy saving and energy effectiveness policies of regional, municipal and local authorities.
“All local authorities should show realistically how they save energy and what their results are,” he added.
Logically the ball is in the court of the regions to produce the facts regarding the efforts they are making to save energy, but the verification and then encouragement to do more will fall back on the central government – a huge task in anyone’s “geography” book.
Friday 14th May 2010
