Diring his working visit to Avan district, at the journalists’ request Mayor Taron Margaryan referred to the model program “Energy effectiveness increase in buildings” being implemented within the frames of cooperation of the Municipality of Yerevan with the Armenian office of the UNO Development Program, according to which in the block of flats at Avan. D. Varuzhan,6 the measures aimed at energy saving had been carried out such as placement of windows in the open parts of the basement, heat-transfer resistance increase due to using of thermal insulation materials on the external walls of the building, replacement of the doors and windows on the staircases, waterproofing of the roof.
“Our cooperation with the Armenian office of the UNO Development Program has been very effective particularly in the recent years. All the measures taken in this building are aimed at energy saving. The selection of the building is based on the circumstance that it has a central heating system and it makes it possible to have clear idea how effective this approach can be“, stressed Taron Margaryan. The observations made by the UNO Development Program have shown that after taking all the measures the energy saving effectiveness has made up 60 %. “This is really important especially from the point of view of its social significance for the residents. I think that such programs should be long-lasting”, said Taron Margaryan.
Answering the questions of the journalists concerning the measures aimed at the protection of the blocks of flats Taron Margaryan said that there are certain problems rooted in this field as the majority of the blocks of flats had been built in the Soviet period. But the Municipality has been doing its best to solve them. In fact, the maintenance of the blocks of flats is within the responsibility of the residents themselves, but taking into account the social conditions the Municipality undertakes repairing of the porches, elevators, roofs, basements, damaged balconies and the facades of the buildings.
Regarding the modernization of elevators Mayor Taron Margaryan stressed that certain steps are being taken in this direction too. “The elevators in the majority of the blocks of flats are in badly condition and there is a lot to be done in this regard. Current repairing is not enough so we are negotiating with specialized companies. I hope that in the nearest future due to joint efforts of the administrative districts, condominiums and residents to regulate the problem”, said Taron Margaryan.
As regards the damaged balconies the Mayor stressed that they are included in the private are of the residents so it is residents’ obligation to repair their balconies which are a part of their private flats. Bu taking into account the safety and social conditions of the residents the Municipality included the repairing of damaged balconies in the community programs.

Information and Public Relations Department
of the City Hall of Yerevan