Energy efficiency is the most urgent challenge at the current world agenda. G8 countries devoted the last session of St-Petersbur’s summit to energy security, one of the core issue of which is efficient use of energy resources – energy saving can compared to energy production and apparently is the most feasible and environmentally responsible approach to secure steady rising demand for energy.

The role of regional authorities for development of local energy efficient potentials and stimulation of private investment inflow is increasing dramatically. Some regions is already actively implementing energy efficient measures: including development of regional energy efficient programs, tariffs policies and municipal EE projects.

In most of the regions these activities are implemented within regional energy efficient centers, which typically have a strong link with local governments. Experience of the most successful regions could be monitored, analyzed and suggested for replication when appropriate. Development of best EE practices which can be replicated potentially through out the country is crucial for removing barriers to energy efficiency at federal and regional levels in Russia.

Another question is having such replicable decisions widely available and up-to-date. For this purpose integration of best practices implementers in to EE associations would be desirable.

The conference aimed at:

• Representation of currently existing regional EE practices
• Identification of best potentially replicable practices
• Discussing best approaches for information sharing and networking for achieving EE at federal and regional level of Russia

Participants included: representatives of federal ministries, regional authorities (Ministry of Industry and Energy, Ministry of Regional development, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Science and Education), regional energy efficient centers and financial institutes.