In the framework of NATELI I energy passports and energy audits were prepared for selected multi-apartment residential buildings. 

The following main conclusions and recommendations have been elaborated based on the work on Energy Audits conducted in the selected multi-apartment residential buildings:

• Energy loss from common areas of residential multi-apartment buildings in Tbilisi is significant and deserves special energy efficiency measures to be conducted.
• Safety and comfort requirements are mostly neglected in common areas of multi-apartment residential buildings—as such, unsafe elevators, a lack of lighting and unorganized space was observed in most buildings audited.
• Information spreading and experience sharing between communities as well as inside the communities is quite slow. There is a need for wider outreach activities to inform and facilitate sharing of positive experience across the communities.
• The ageing stock of elevators in Tbilisi will soon require replacement or major overhauling of these assets in the years to come.

The Energy Audit Team’s analysis and assessment of the EA results revealed a great potential for energy savings in common areas of typical multi–apartment residential buildings in Tbilisi.

Through the team’s detailed energy audit, we were able to optimize energy efficiency interventions and estimate their profitability.

• Lighting

Improvement of lighting systems can bring substantial benefits with minimal investment. It provides the highest return on investment among considered energy efficiency measures and provides a sizeable safety benefit. It is recommended to:

• Restore common lighting
• Install fluorescent lighting or motion sensors –cost effective measures
• Arrange the lighting of basements from entrance circuits
• Collect the money for lighting together with elevator payments

• Weatherization

The audit revealed that weatherization of entrances, stairwells and common corridors is a highly effective energy efficiency measure. With moderate investment it provides offers a potential for heat loss reduction and thus increased comfort in common area combined with the reduction of heat loss from apartments. This measure provides the greatest saving in energy.

• Elevator modernization

Many of the elevators are in poor technical and unsafe for operation

• It is recommended to arrange the inspection of ageing elevator stock in the city with the emphasis on safety and expected growth of technical problems.
• Elevator upgrade by installation of Variable Frequency Drive (VFD -VVVF) controls systems is the least profitable Energy efficiency measure. It has the longest payback period and can be considered as less attractive option for the time being. However this measure should be considered as a prime option for improving the efficiency and extending lifetime of elevators in case of major overhaul.  Economies  of scale can be achieved if these measures will be replicated in many buildings.