Today, September 11, in Rakvere, Estonia — where 97% of the housing stock has been modernized — an important event took place for the field of energy efficiency in Ukraine and Europe. The Energy Efficiency Fund and the Estonian Association of Housing Cooperatives (EKYL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation.
The agreement aims to deepen the partnership between Ukraine and Estonia in energy saving and the sustainable development of the housing sector. Specifically, the parties committed to exchanging experiences and best practices, organizing joint training programs and workshops, preparing analytical and methodological materials, and supporting initiatives that reduce energy consumption in multi-apartment buildings.
Yegor Farenyuk, Director of the Energy Efficiency Fund, highlighted the significance of the new partnership:
“We greatly value the openness and readiness of our Estonian colleagues to share their experience. This collaboration will enable homeowners’ associations in both Ukraine and Estonia to cut costs and make buildings more comfortable and durable. For us, this partnership is not only an opportunity to adopt best practices but also to co-create innovative solutions. We look forward to productive and long-term collaboration ahead,” he said.
Andres Jaadla, Chairman of The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL), added:
“This partnership gives us not only the chance to share our own experience but also to learn from the many successful practices already implemented in Ukraine. We see that Ukrainian multi-apartment building owners, despite challenging conditions, are embracing modern solutions in the housing sector. This is truly inspiring, and we are confident that this exchange of knowledge will be mutually enriching and beneficial for both countries.”
The signing of the Memorandum marks a key step in strengthening international cooperation in energy efficiency. The work ahead promises to be substantial, and we view this partnership not as a formality, but as a genuine opportunity to improve the comfort and safety of people’s homes. Estonia stands alongside Ukraine on this path, as the challenges of effectively managing multi-apartment buildings and enhancing their energy efficiency are equally pressing for both countries. This collaboration unites us in a shared commitment to transforming the housing sector for the better.