Building Transformation on Hryhorii Kochura Street
A 102-unit apartment building at 19 Hryhorii Kochura Street, Building 1, in Kyiv underwent a major overhaul after residents formed the condominium association 'Our Home 19/1'. Following five years without hot water and with broken elevators, the community decided to take action. Just before winter, under the leadership of Valeriy Pyndychok—head of the Solomyansky District Condo Association in Kyiv—funds were raised to purchase a gasoline generator and automatic startup equipment for power outages.
Solar Power Plant and Elevator Modernization
In 2024, the building installed a 100 kW solar power plant costing 950,000 UAH. The project was financed through a preferential loan of 950,000 UAH from the Kyiv Revolving Fund over five years, plus over 520,000 UAH in compensation from the Energy Efficiency Fund's Green Home program. The loan term was later shortened from five to two years. By fall 2024, the solar station began powering heating pumps, hot and cold water supply systems, hallway lighting, and intercoms.
Additionally, both elevators—freight and passenger—were modernized. After upgrades, one elevator's motor now consumes just 5.5 kW per hour, down from 20 kW. Other improvements included:
- replacement of windows and doors;
- insulation of pipes in the basement and technical floor;
- installation of motion-sensor lights across all 17 floors.
In total, over 1 million UAH of residents' own funds and more than 15 million UAH from other sources were invested in the renovation.
Valeriy Pyndychok: 'Complaints and appeals to the housing office and various agencies led nowhere. That was the reason to start making changes.'
He added that 'the residents asked for help and for continued management of the building.' Future steps may include installing electronic heat distributors on each radiator and renovating the building's entrances.
The condo association 'Khudozhnyk,' which also modernized its infrastructure, shows how other associations can benefit from similar measures. Renovation initiator Denys Skorenko noted that 'in one year, electricity savings for the association's needs reached about 40%.' This highlights the potential of energy-efficient technologies for apartment buildings.
Ultimately, the modernization at 19 Hryhorii Kochura Street demonstrates how forming a condominium association and leveraging city and state funding programs can significantly improve residents' quality of life. Such initiatives could inspire other communities seeking better living conditions and energy efficiency. Given the success of 'Our Home 19/1,' interest in creating similar associations is likely to grow across Kyiv and Ukraine.
As Kyiv continues to enhance its energy infrastructure, the recent installation of a solar power station at Hryhorii Kochura Street highlights the community's proactive approach to sustainability. This initiative aligns with the city's broader efforts to improve energy efficiency, as seen in the city's addition of new cogeneration capacity ahead of winter. Such developments not only address immediate needs but also pave the way for a more resilient urban environment.