Aparan, Aragatsotn – On November 7, the USAID-funded Clean Energy and Water Program (CEWP) conducted a community workshop in Aparan, following the completion of a street-lighting improvement project in the town. The purpose of the community workshop was to disseminate the positive results of the project and present the energy and cost benefits of energy efficient lighting technologies to participants, including community leaders, representatives of private firms and public organizations from both Aparan and neighboring communities. CEWP engineers discussed the financial benefits that energy saving technologies generate for users and introduced modern approaches to energy efficient street-lighting systems.

In his remarks, the mayor of Aparan extended his appreciation to USAID for supporting the project and handed a certificate of acknowledgement to USAID on behalf of the community. Representative of USAID/Armenia Marina Vardanyan noted that USAID, through its Clean Energy and Water Program, helps to rehabilitate and improve water and energy infrastructure in Armenian villages and small towns, benefiting nearly 50,000 people across the country.

Street-lighting has been one of the priority issues of the Aparan municipality, which partnered with the USAID/CEWP to rehabilitate the street-lighting system on several major streets in the center of the town. The project will increase the safety of traffic and pedestrians during the evening hours. Also, as compared to conventional gas discharge lamps used in the street-lighting systems in many Armenian communities, compact fluorescent lamps consume less electricity and are less expensive to operate. The annual savings in the municipal budget are estimated to be around $4300 US dollars. 

The USAID Clean Energy and Water Program is designed to improve water and energy management practices in Armenia, as well as help the country better respond to climate change challenges. The program implements a number of water and energy projects in several rural communities in Armenia to demonstrate best practices in the management of energy and water systems. These projects focus on water supply, efficient lighting, space and water heating, use of biogas, and solar energy.