Improving Energy Efficiency, reducing air pollution Intervening in Public Service Areas to save energy and reduce gas emissions AGULJELN MARKU

Author: Aguljeln Marku
Affiliation:  Polis University

Abstract
It is no longer possible to ignore the Climate Changes we are facing and that carbon emissions are the responsible for them. Carbon emissions are mainly caused by the use of energy and its production. Energy efficiency measures offer many opportunities to help rapidly growing cities
achieve energy security, energy savings, and reduce costs and emissions. Energy savings, nowadays is a high-priority concern in many countries. Therefore energy-efficient measures are being increasingly implemented in all sectors.
Rapid urbanization has led to massive demand for energy to power economic activity, expand basic infrastructure, and deliver municipal services. Cities now consume about two-thirds of the world’s energy, and are responsible for about 70 percent of the world’s GHG emissions.
Energy efficiency can play a key role in helping meet growing energy demand in cities; it can offer practical, cost-effective solutions to expand and improve urban services, while contributing to cities’ efforts to be more competitive and address climate change.
Prishtina faces steady population and economic growth, which requires an expansion of reliable energy and delivery of municipal services. Also the city is one the most polluted capital
cities in Europe and that is because of Obiliq Power Plant. Its emissions are about 74 times above the European standard. About 15% of energy in Prishtina is produced by Obiliq Power
Plant. Improving the energy efficiency would reduce the energy loss, so the need for energy and by that, for Obiliq, would be lower. Reducing the Obiliq emission will cause the reduction of air pollution. The methodology used for the energy retrofits comprises three steps, namely assessment of the energy performance, prioritization of sectors having the highest energy savings potential, and giving recommendation for the EE plan. This EE plan must be in line with the strategies and targets set at the national and local level to reduce energy consumption and improve performance in most sectors, including public services. The priority areas of Intervention will be the public building, street lighting and urban public transport since the public administration has high control of these areas. Recent studies such as the assessment of the energy performance of Astana and Almaty (Kazakhstan) found that targeted interventions in energy-efficiency in municipal service sectors - including public buildings, district heating, transport, street lighting, waste and water
supply – can lead to significant energy savings annually, including 43% savings (3,7 billion kWh) in Astana and 34% savings (3,1 billion kWh) in Almaty. The aims of this study will be the retrofit for improving the energy efficiency; how much canwe save energy from service areas and what effects will it have in reducing gas emissions.