11.02.2012 Interview to the Deputy minister of regional development of the Russian Federation Iliya Ponomarev (Commercial Real Estate # 3 (178)

- How important is the role played by greentechnologies in the projects implemented by the Regional Ministry? 

- Any international standards which are not directlyrelated to security, particularly BREEAM and LEED, are purely reputational in character in todays markets.Today there is already a section of people for whom things which have no impact on security are nevertheless substantial. This is a product of culture. I think this is an entirely healthy situation. Here the standardsact as a kind of indicator. Although not mandatory,complying with them provides an advantage in thecompetitive battle. As civil society is built, mandatory things are left in the past. In Russia, however, suchrelations arent yet established; they must be learned. For the present, without institutions of civil society, in Russia it isnt considered shameful to pay a thug threekopecks to design our homes. Unfortunately, Russia doesnt currently have reputable regulation. As for energy efficiency, as a trend this is a goodthing. In theory the country needs this, but the costsrelating to energy efficiency are returned in 25-30years. The period of a households capital elapses inthis time. These benefits arent expressed in money. We can lower the energy intensiveness of the countrysGDP, but simultaneously the question arises, Wheredoes the extra energy go, given our local markets? For example, Switzerland can lower energy intensity within the country and resell energy to neighboringcountries. But what does this have to do with the energy conserved in Norilsk? We dont have many largesystems capable of transmission.