Evaluation Detail

Energy-Efficient Design and Construction of Residential Buildings

Evaluation Plan:: 2016-2020, Kazakhstan
Evaluation Type:: Final Project
Planned End Date:: 01/2016
Completion Date:: 12/2016
Status:: Completed
Management Response:: Yes
Evaluation Budget(US $):: 35,000

Document	Type	Language	Size	Status	Downloads
KAZ-TER-EEB-FINAL.docx	report	English	535.50 KB	Posted	230
ToR_final evaluation_NE_eng.doc	tor	English	136.00 KB	Posted	172

Title

Energy-Efficient Design and Construction of Residential Buildings

Atlas Project Number:

00059795

Evaluation Plan:

2016-2020, Kazakhstan

Evaluation Type:

Final Project

Status:

Completed

Completion Date:

12/2016

Planned End Date:

01/2016

Management Response:

Yes

Corporate Outcome and Output (UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021)

1. Output 1.1.1 Capacities developed across the whole of government to integrate the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement and other international agreements in development plans and budgets, and to analyse progress towards the SDGs, using innovative and data-driven solutions
2. Output 1.5.1 Solutions adopted to achieve universal access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy

Evaluation Budget(US $):

35,000

Source of Funding:

Project

Evaluation Expenditure(US $):

34,560

Joint Programme:

Mandatory Evaluation:

Joint Evaluation:

Evaluation Team members:

Name	Title	Email	Nationality
Susan L. Legro

GEF Evaluation:

Yes

GEF Project Title:	Energy-Efficient Design and Construction of Residential Buildings
Evaluation Type:	Terminal Evaluation
Focal Area:	Climate Change
Project Type:	FSP
GEF Phase:	GEF-4
GEF Project ID:	3758
PIMS Number:	4133

Key Stakeholders:

Agency for Construction and Residential-Communal Affairs

Countries:

KAZAKHSTAN

Lessons
Findings

Recommendations
1	The project has raised the visibility of energy efficiency at a high level, and it is now necessary to improve awareness at the local government level and confront coal-based, energy-intensive policies. Nearly all stakeholders interviewed mentioned that UNDP’s role in policy advocacy was very beneficial. Key areas for advocacy could include fossil fuel subsidy reforms (in conjunction with other donors) and supporting incentives to save energy. UNDP should continue its efforts to educate decision-makers on all of these issues, as the current system is still one where, as one interviewee described it, “the government subsidizes construction from one pocket and energy consumption from another.” One activity to consider might be a sectoral budget review for sustainable energy that lays out expenditures for energy savings and renewable energy in comparison with energy subsidies.
2	UNDP should advocate for a fixed timetable for building code updates. Unlike neighboring countries, there is no fixed timetable for updating building codes. Regular updates (e.g. every five years, staggered by building type) would place ongoing pressure on the government to make its codes increasingly rigorous as technologies and materials advance.
3	UNDP’s role in policy advocacy should include the housing sector. With the upcoming introduction of the new legal code for the housing sector, there are opportunities to ensure that buildings use energy wisely once they are occupied. A great deal of work has been done in this sector in other CIS countries over the past two decades that is relevant. It is also important to emphasize the linkages between ownership structures and energy use: for example, the Government housing program will have an increased emphasis on rental housing, which could have serious implications for implementing EE measures (operations and maintenance, utility relationships, occupant behavior, etc.). This issue should be followed closely
4	UNDP should take advantage of opportunities to coordinate its work on energy and environment with its work on economic and social well-being. The evaluators observed first-hand the burdensome nature of the fuel assistance benefit (see Annex 10), and if it worked effectively, it would be much easier to reduce blanket subsidies for heat. In addition, it might also be worth considering the development of employment programs that focus on job training in building weatherization, which can be linked to energy efficiency initiatives
5	UNDP should maintain the valuable data collected on energy performance in buildings (470 buildings in 7 regions) and many other useful research findings, utilize them in the new sustainable cities project, and make them accessible to researchers
6	UNDP should continue to advocate on behalf of the residents of the pilot building at 106 Yermekova Street in Karagandy and attempt to improve their current circumstances

1. Recommendation:

The project has raised the visibility of energy efficiency at a high level, and it is now necessary to improve awareness at the local government level and confront coal-based, energy-intensive policies. Nearly all stakeholders interviewed mentioned that UNDP’s role in policy advocacy was very beneficial. Key areas for advocacy could include fossil fuel subsidy reforms (in conjunction with other donors) and supporting incentives to save energy. UNDP should continue its efforts to educate decision-makers on all of these issues, as the current system is still one where, as one interviewee described it, “the government subsidizes construction from one pocket and energy consumption from another.” One activity to consider might be a sectoral budget review for sustainable energy that lays out expenditures for energy savings and renewable energy in comparison with energy subsidies.