First came the idea

The age of energy-saving technologies is beginning in Ukraine. At least that is the opinion of the organizers of “Idea Fair,” the first national competition for the best energy-saving projects, which just wrapped up in Kyiv. A total of 56 projects were submitted to the contest organized by the New Energy of Ukraine Alliance.

The best 16 projects competed in three nominations: “Best Idea,” “Most Realizable Project,” and “Best Completed Project.” The strongest stimulus for the winners was a promise made by the alliance’s chairman Valeriy Borovyk that the Ukrainian government will help to implement and promote their ideas.

The jury awarded the title of “Best Idea” to Oleh Olkhovyk (Expert Technology Center) for his project “Production of Synthetic Gas Using Runny Organic Waste.” The project “New Modula (Insulation) Blocks without Cold and Sound ‘Bridges’” (by Oleksiy Bondarenko of the private enterprise Elmes) won the nomination “Best Realizable Project.” Oleksiy Kuznetsov’s “Universal Energy-Saving Boiler Room Equipment” was recognized as Best Completed Project.

“We will assess the winning projects and see if they can be implemented in the nearest future, as well as their costs, recoupment, and most importantly their energy-saving efficiency. After that we’ll decide with whom we’ll sign a cooperation agreement,” Borovyk said. Ukraine’s Minister of Construction, Architecture, and Housing and Communal Services, Pavlo Kachur, confirmed the government’s interest in implementing these projects. He added that some of the ideas presented during the competition will be implemented by the housing and utility services or in the construction sphere, and that the cabinet is prepared to finance the most effective projects.

After the formal proceedings some of the inventors spoke with Elmes’s Andriy Lantiya, who explained that the sphere of insulation block applications is quite extensive. They can be used in new construction projects and for renovating apartment buildings and offices. All ferroconcrete factories have the equipment produce these blocks. All it takes is a mold like the one used to make ordinary foam concrete blocks.

Also, insulation blocks and foam concrete ones cost practically the same. But there are advantages to insulation blocks. For example, a 10-centimeter-thick insulation block provides the same insulation as a 2.8 m thick lime-sand brick wall. The inventors intend to start serial production and maybe even access the international market, which has no comparable products. Oleksiy Kuznetsov is also convinced that his prize-winning project has a future. His universal energy-saving boiler room equipment has a number of advantages compared to Western counterparts. “Given the same quality and characteristics, it is four times less expensive and is adjusted to our heating systems and raw materials,” stresses Kuznetsov. “But most importantly, it substantially reduces natural gas consumption.”

The submitted projects were exhibited at the finale. Visitors could explore power-generating windmills, miniature hydropower plants, and even such purely household items, like a cold-weather house de- humidifier.