GYUMRI, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. Basen community of Shirak has turned into a community excessively using renewable energy thanks to the UNDP Global Environment Fund’s Small Grants Programme and the active cooperation of the community. As a result of a project initiated by the “Biosofia” NGO and launched 2 years ago, a water heater with a capacity of 300 liters was installed near the kindergarten of the community which operates by a 16 kW / h solar energy. The water heater provides the kindergarten with permanent hot water. Besides, a 60-square-meter greenhouse was built the benefits of which are enjoyed by the children of the community. But the programme does not conclude with so much. A number of other projects have successfully been launched due to active participation of Basen residents and personally the head of the community.

The chair of the programme Gevorg Petrosyan introduced the entire work done in the community to the Deputy Governor of Shirak Seyran Petrosyan, donors of the programme and guests. He considered the prove of the productiveness of the programme not only the fact that due to the water heaters, greenhouse and the dryer the life of the residents has eased but also that 12 residents of the community have themselves installed water heaters. Moreover, the head of the community has built a similar but larger greenhouse for personal use. The total cost of the programme is 33 thousand 900 dollars.

“We have achieved quite good results. First and foremost we managed to break the taboo that building a greenhouse in Shirak Province is unproductive. We managed to prove that due to investments and hard work everything is possible. We already possess an alternative energy source: heat pump which provides 4 times more energy. We got 440 kg of tomatoes and cucumbers from this small greenhouse, besides, we saves much energy. Last year we saved energy worth 500 thousand drams for the kindergarten only due to the solar water heater. 12 families, seeing its productivity, have installed their own water heaters”, the head of the community mentioned, adding that approximately 40% is saved due to this system. Besides, it is more secure.

“The only disadvantage of this system is that initially much money is required to install the system. But it is more secure and productive, especially for a community like Basen, which is not supplied by gas and relies only on electricity. The role of the community is very important here. The resident of the community sees it and does not want to leave the hometown. Today in the community, in contrast with many other places, there is almost no migration. The young people remain and form families in the village. Only one family has left within 4 years”, the head of the community Hamlet Petrossyan expressed his opinion in an interview with “Armenpress”.

Armenuhi Mkhoyan