In partnership with UNIC Beirut and ESCWA, the Lions Clubs International District 351 (Lebanon-Jordan-Iraq), launched a pilot project on sustainable energy for all at the Lebanese Evangelical Association for Specialized Education and Street Children located in Kahale, Mount Lebanon. The project follows an energy-saving awareness campaign launched in May on the occasion of the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All entitled, “Change Your Habits, Save Your Energy”.
In a press conference for the occasion, Representative of UNIC and ESCWA, Walid Deghaili, said that obtaining modern energy services in an affordable cost is very essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals aimed at combating hunger, poverty and sickness and ensuring environmental sustainability.
Deghaili referred to the awareness campaign launched jointly by the UN and LIONS on the MTV station in May and which advocates for changing human being’s habits in order to improve the efficiency of energy use. “Because it is always important to combine theory with action, an idea emerged to improve energy efficiency in the Evangelical Association. LIONS funded the project, while the UN provided engineering services and technical resources required,” Deghaili said.
The project included the replacement of bedroom windows with high-quality plastic frames that improve thermal insulation and reduce the amount of heat transmitted inside and out by 60 per cent, thus reducing the need for heating by 50 per cent in winter. It also entailed restoring the solar system for heating water.
LIONS Governor Wafa Khoury, for her part, said the partnership with the UN on the sustainable energy for all project is divided into three phases; first, a press conference to launch the “Change Your Habits, Save Your Energy” campaign; second, a one-week awareness campaign via MTV’s various programs and third, equipping the Evangelical Association with energy-saving products.
President of the Association, Father Gabriel Bahnan, thanked both the UN and LIONS for their social responsibility towards street children and for their efforts in funding and implementing the energy project at the Center’s premises.