Where is the greatest potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and which construction technologies can maximise the energy efficiency of buildings?
The construction and operation of buildings accounts for 39% of global CO2 emissions, of which 28% comes from operational emissions and the energy required for heating, cooling, and power supply, and 11% comes from the manufacture of materials and construction.
In the EU, only 25% of buildings are considered energy efficient, while in Ukraine the share of such buildings is about 5%. Consequently, the greatest potential for reducing carbon emissions lies in improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing the use of fossil fuels in the manufacture of building materials.
The use of energy-efficient building envelopes in combination with technologies such as heat pumps, renewable heat and electricity sources is the best way to create energy-independent buildings and achieve climate neutrality.
Rauta offers energy-efficient technologies using Ruukki products to create energy-efficient buildings.
Thanks to the special configuration of the joints and the presence of an EPDM seal in the sandwich panel locks, maximum airtightness of q50≤1 m3/(m2h) is achieved and energy consumption is reduced by up to 20% compared to conventional panels.
Highly efficient building envelopes made of Ruukki sandwich panels not only reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions and operating costs, but also provide greater comfort for people, enhance the company’s image, and increase the value of the building.
The use of Ruukki’s energy-efficient sandwich panels with special accessories and additional joint sealing can reduce a building’s energy consumption by up to 30%.
Green steel products
In 2023, Ruukki became the first company in the world to start producing sandwich panels and ventilated facade cladding from green steel, which is produced using hydrogen, electricity, and biogas instead of fossil fuels. The residual product of this production process is water, not carbon dioxide.
For facades and roofs that will be used in highly aggressive environments, Ruukki offers special Hiarc and Pural coatings, which provide excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation, have increased resistance to dirt and scratches, and are also capable of reducing the heating temperature of the surface of enclosing structures.
Under the same conditions, energy-reflective coatings heat up 23% less than conventional coatings. This further reduces the amount of energy required to heat or cool rooms.
Rauta’s solution is a rooftop solar power plant that includes an enclosure made of Ruukki roof sandwich panels and modern monocrystalline solar panels with a set of special mounts.
Currently, the return on investment in RoofSolar for commercial buildings is 3.5-4 years.
Today, construction expertise is measured not in tons of concrete and steel, but in how little the construction and operation of buildings affect the environment. Improving construction technologies and using more energy-efficient materials and structures are essential steps for developers to take to preserve the planet.
Mastercard, together with PUMB, is launching an exciting promotion for everyone making international transfers. It’s simple: send or receive money to a Mastercard card via the PUMB app and automatically enter the draw for valuable prizes!
The “Gifts for International Transfers with Mastercard” promotion runs for two months: from April to May 2025.
PUMB clients who own a Mastercard and make or receive international transfers through the bank’s mobile app.
Sending via the PUMB app with a Mastercard:
Receiving via the PUMB app to a Mastercard:
Every month, 30 electronic gift certificates from giftmall worth 2,000 UAH each will be raffled.
– The more transfers you make, the higher your chances of winning!
A total of 60 winners will receive a notification on their mobile phone with details on how to use their certificate.
Send and receive international transfers to Mastercard cards via PUMB, enjoy convenient services, and get rewarding bonuses!
Details and official rules here.
Cryptocurrencies are increasingly becoming part of the global financial system, and countries in the Balkan region are demonstrating a variety of approaches to their regulation.
Serbia
Status: Officially recognized and regulated.
Legislation: Law on Digital Assets (2020).
Regulators: The National Bank of Serbia and the Securities Commission.
Taxes:
Capital gains tax: 15%.
Income tax: 15%.
Penalties: Up to 5 million dinars ($46,400) or 20% of annual income for operating without a license.
Croatia
Status: Not recognized as legal tender, but not prohibited.
Regulation: There is no special law, operations are regulated by general rules.
Taxes: Income from cryptocurrencies is subject to capital gains tax.
Albania
Status: Regulated by law (2020).
Regulators: Financial Supervision Authority and National Agency for Information Society.
Taxes:
Capital gains tax: 15%.
Corporate tax: 15%.
Sanctions: Administrative fines and restrictions on activities.
Status: There is no special legislation, operations with cryptocurrencies are not prohibited.
Warnings: The central bank notes the risks associated with cryptocurrencies.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Status: Not legal tender, no exchange for official currency is possible.
Taxes: The tax on income from transactions is 10%.
Regulation: There is no legislation, but trading and buying cryptocurrencies is allowed.
Republika Srpska (part of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Status: Cryptocurrencies are legalized (amendments to the law on the securities market, 2022).
Supervision: Securities Commission.
Taxes: Income tax is 10%.
North Macedonia
Status: Not recognized as legal tender.
Regulation: There is no regulation, cryptocurrency activities are not prohibited.
Kosovo
Status: Not recognized as legal tender, no special legislation.
Restrictions: A complete ban on mining has been introduced since 2022 due to the energy crisis.
Approaches to cryptocurrencies in the Balkans vary:
Serbia and Albania establish a clear legal framework, ensuring the legality of operations.
Montenegro and North Macedonia have no special regulation, but do not prohibit its use.
Kosovo restricts activities due to the energy crisis.
It is important for potential users and investors to study local laws and consult with experts to work safely and legally with cryptocurrencies in the region.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/434
Interfax-Ukraine news agency announces the completion of development and implementation of an updated version of the agency’s online news feed.
“This is a resource with enhanced functionality for information processing. The service is designed for users who need not only quick access to news streams, but also tools for structuring them, searching databases, consolidating news, etc.,” explained Yegor Boltryk, director of Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
The new version has improved navigation capabilities and changed the system’s configuration to make it more flexible and understandable. The design has been updated for the convenience of mobile gadget users.
“In line with global trends, we decided to simplify the interface as much as possible, making it easy, versatile and convenient to use from any device,” added Yegor Boltryk.
The updated version has improved the system for working with the news archive (Interfax-Ukraine databases).
“The new version of the search tools is more accurate, in particular, the ability to generate complex queries and reports has been updated. I am confident that our domestic and foreign clients from various sectors (banks, embassies, government agencies, media, etc.) will appreciate the new adaptability of the system and the new capabilities of the search engines,” explained Maxim Urakin, Development and Commercial Director of Interfax-Ukraine.
“Interfax-Ukraine is an independent Ukrainian news agency that has been operating in the Ukrainian political and economic information market since 1992. It produces more than 40 news products in four languages. The agency’s editorial office is located in Kyiv. “Interfax-Ukraine is not part of any foreign media holdings. The founder and owner of Interfax-Ukraine was Oleksandr Martynenko.
As reported at the end of 2023, Interfax-Ukraine news agency became the official representative of the international company Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) in the Ukrainian market.
The agency has been a member and official service provider of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine since 2005. “Interfax-Ukraine provides up-to-date political, financial and economic information not only on Ukraine but also on a number of key countries for Ukraine (Europe, China, the United States, etc.).
In 2023, Vodafone Ukraine showcased resilience and positive momentum across all key operational and financial indicators. Despite the impact of the ongoing war, the company not only preserved but also increased its investments in the development and support of Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure. Compared to the previous year, Vodafone’s investments surged by an impressive 58%, reflecting a commitment to enhancing business efficiency.
Financial and Operational Highlights
Revenue Growth: Vodafone’s revenue grew by 9% to reach UAH 21.6 billion in 2023. Key drivers included a focus on expanding fixed-line services, increased data usage, and growth in both mobile and fixed-line service revenues.
OIBDA Increase: The company achieved a 13% increase in OIBDA, which reached UAH 12.7 billion. The OIBDA margin also improved to 58.7%, representing a 1.8 percentage point increase.
Net Profit Surge: Vodafone’s net profit soared to UAH billion, a remarkable fivefold growth compared to 2022. Factors contributing to this substantial increase included currency stabilization (due to NBU’s managed exchange rate regime), reduced losses and impairment related to assets located on non-controlled territories, partner discounts, and overall business efficiency gains.
Investment Milestone: The generated profit allowed Vodafone to reinvest in network coverage and maintain network stability. Notably, the company achieved record-breaking investment levels, surpassing even pre-war figures from 2021.
Vodafone’s commitment to Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure underscores its resilience and determination to thrive despite challenging circumstances.
Investments
In 2023, Vodafone’s investment in Ukraine’s infrastructure amounted to UAH 5.7 billion. Throughout the two years of full-scale war, Vodafone invested a total of UAH 9.3 billion in the country.
Despite continuous network damage and the need for equipment restoration, the operator continued to expand. During the active phase of the war, Vodafone successfully brought 5,500 base stations online, enhancing coverage and network capacity. Over these two years, data traffic increased by 1.5 times. On average, a Vodafone data customer uses approximately 9 GB of mobile internet per month. This surge in usage contributed to an increase in the ARPU, reaching UAH 107.2 per month in 2023.
Expanding the network by 40% allowed Vodafone customers across Ukraine to consume more content while maintaining high-quality mobile internet. In the third and fourth quarters of 2023, Vodafone emerged as the leader in mobile internet speed in Ukraine, as confirmed by user tests using Ookla’s Speedtest®.
Subscriber Base
Systematic investments in network development and restoration, coupled with attractive tariff initiatives, positively impacted the subscriber base. In 2023, Vodafone managed to increase its customer count. As of the end of the year, 15.9 million people in Ukraine use Vodafone services, representing a 3.2% growth compared to 2022.
Additionally, more than 2 million Vodafone customers remain abroad and continue to use Vodafone services with Ukrainian tariffs. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Vodafone has supported Ukrainians seeking refuge in European countries. Most tariffs include free access to the “Affordable Roaming” service in 30 countries. This service provides 10 GB of mobile internet and 100 minutes for calls to Ukrainian and destination-country subscribers, subject to payment of the Ukrainian service package.
Fixed Internet
Vodafone Ukraine has made significant strides in its fixed business segment. In 2023, Vodafone continued its development of fixed business by increasing investments in the expansion of new fibre optic lines based on Vega, a company within the Vodafone Ukraine group. Additionally, Vodafone acquired a new asset, purchasing 90.6% shares of LLC “Freenet”.
During the past year, the company actively expanded its coverage in the cities of its presence and started the construction of the GPON network in Mykolaiv and Ivano-Frankivsk. In 2023, a network was built in 3,125 apartment buildings with the possibility of access to high-speed Internet for 411,426 households.
In total, access to the Vodafone Gigabit Net service is already available in more than 6,000 homes in Ukraine.
Vodafone tripled its fixed internet user base using GPON technology, which has proven to be the most reliable and energy-independent access technology for home and office internet. Thanks to the development of its own network and the acquisition of a new provider, Vodafone has now entered the top 5 fixed internet providers in terms of user count.
Vodafone Retail
Retail revenue increased by 16%, reaching UAH 773 million in 2023, contributing to 3.6% of the entire Vodafone Ukraine group’s revenue. Vodafone Retail improved the efficiency of its retail points, nearly doubling the number of available brands in Vodafone stores. The company received industry recognition, winning the “Retailer of the Year in the Portable Electronics Segment” award from the Association of Retailers of Ukraine (RAU), as chosen by Ukrainian consumers. Throughout the year, Vodafone opened 5 new stores, bringing the total number of retail outlets to 430: 92 company-owned stores and 338 dealer stores.
Vodafone’s Commitment to Ukraine
Vodafone Ukraine has made substantial investments in supporting the country and its citizens. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Vodafone has been dedicated to ensuring millions of citizens remain connected with their loved ones and have access to information during these challenging times, regardless of their mobile account status.
Vodafone has launched a series of social and charitable initiatives, including humanitarian and Financial Assistance:
• Providing direct financial aid and humanitarian support.
• Procuring emergency vehicles and medical equipment.
• Initiating the “League of Warmth” charity challenge, aimed at insulating maternity hospitals.
• Supporting children who have lost parents due to the war.
In total, Vodafone’s social investments during 2022-2023 amounted to UAH 1.7 billion
For more information, please contact:
Vodafone
Press service
press@vodafone.ua
About Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, providing a wide range of services including mobile voice, data transfer, messaging, fixed broadband and cable television. The Company operates across 17 countries and partners with mobile networks in 43 countries. As of 31 March 2024, Vodafone provides services to over 340m mobile customers and 28m fixed broadband customers, 20m TV customers and connects more than 162m IoT devices. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com.
Vodafone Ukraine is a leading telecommunications company that provides high-speed 3G and 4G Internet services and fixed broadband services. The Vodafone’s investments during the active construction of high-speed Internet networks in 2015 –2023 exceeded 42 billion UAH. The record investments have ensured the technological leadership and the development of new technological services – Internet of Things (IoT), technologies and solutions for Smart City, big data analytics, fintech services, cloud services. Vodafone has 15.9 m customers in Ukraine. Since December 2019, Vodafone Ukraine is part of NEQSOL Holding.
About NEQSOL Holding
NEQSOL Holding is a diversified group of companies operating across the energy, telecommunications, hi-tech, and construction industries.
The group of companies operates in the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan and the UAE.
Along with its plans for further business development in Ukraine, the Holding opened its representation office in Ukraine at the end of 2020.
In the hotel business, every little thing matters a lot. The choice of hotel towels is one of those aspects that can decide whether a guest will be satisfied and come back again, or whether they will find another hotel for the future. Towels are not just hygiene and comfort items, they are becoming an important part of the hotel experience. The quality of towels can determine the overall impression of a hotel and affect the reputation of the hotel as a whole.
“Hotel Solution, as a leading supplier of hotel textiles, holds a key position in the hotel industry. Our company understands the importance of every detail in the hotel business and offers services and solutions aimed at optimizing the guest experience and increasing the hotel’s competitiveness,” says owner Mariana Boichuk. “With a wide range of products and an individual approach to each client, we help Ukrainian hotels provide their guests with high-quality towels that meet the highest standards of comfort and safety.”
One of the most important aspects affecting the quality of towels is long-fiber cotton, which is one of the most popular materials for the production of hotel towels. It is known for its softness and high absorbency, which makes it an ideal choice for guests of any hotel. The long fibers of cotton make towels strong and durable, ensuring their resistance to wear and frequent washing. In addition, cotton towels absorb moisture well and dry quickly, which is an important factor for guests’ hygiene and comfort.
In addition to cotton, there are other materials used to produce hotel towels. For example, polyester towels can be very effective in absorbing moisture and drying quickly, and they can have a more consistent color and fewer wrinkles after washing compared to cotton towels. However, polyester towels can be less soft and less pleasant to the touch, which can affect guest comfort.
Another alternative material is bamboo, which is known for its environmental sustainability and softness, but may be less durable compared to cotton. Additionally, microfiber towels may be lighter and quicker to dry, but they may be less absorbent than cotton towels.
Quality is also affected by the density of the hotel towel material, which determines its softness, fluffiness, and comfort when used. Towels with a higher density usually feel softer and fluffier, which makes them more pleasant to use. In addition, such towels can provide better moisture absorption and faster drying after use. However, it is important to maintain a balance between density and softness, as towels with too much density can look and feel too heavy and coarse.
Another key characteristic of hotel towels is their ability to absorb moisture effectively and dry quickly after use. This is especially important in the hospitality industry, where quick service and preparation of rooms for new guests is an advantage. Towels with high moisture absorption efficiency allow for faster drying of the guest’s body and a less damp feeling. At the same time, the drying speed of towels affects their hygienic quality, ensuring a high standard of cleanliness and freshness for every guest.
And what about laundry and towel bleaching for hotels? After all, this is also an integral element in creating safe conditions for guests to stay in a hotel. For example, the use of chlorine to bleach hotel towels can have certain negative consequences for both guests and the environment. First, chlorine can cause allergic reactions in some people, especially those with sensitive skin. Chlorine can also leave residue on towels after bleaching, which can lead to skin irritation or even allergic reactions.
In addition, the use of chlorine in the process of bleaching hotel towels can have a negative impact on the environment. Chlorine emissions can be released into the environment, contaminating water sources and harming various species of plants and animals.
That is why alternative bleaching methods are available. Alternative methods of bleaching hotel towels can be used to reduce the risks to guests and the negative impact on the environment. One of these methods is the use of biological agents such as hydrogen peroxide or enzymes, which effectively remove stains and brighten the fabric without the use of chlorine. These methods are safer for guests and the environment because they are less aggressive and do not contain harmful chemicals.
Another alternative method is the use of ultraviolet light, which can be used to bleach fabric without the use of chemicals. This method is effective in removing bacteria and stains, ensuring high hygienic quality of towels without the risk of allergic reactions or negative environmental impact.
Still, checking the quality of hotel towels is a crucial step in the process of choosing the right supplier. First of all, it is important to make sure that the towels meet the requirements of quality and safety standards, such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or other international certificates. These certificates confirm the absence of harmful substances in textile products and guarantee their safety for the health of consumers.
In addition, you should pay attention to the quality of materials and seams. Towels should be made of high-quality long-fiber cotton, which ensures softness, moisture absorption and durability. The quality of the seams is also of great importance, as they affect the service life of the towels.
When choosing hotel towels, it is important to take into account the needs of the hotel itself and the preferences of its audience. For example, an upscale hotel with a higher class of service may require higher quality towels with an exclusive design and exquisite details. In this case, it is important to pay attention to the colors, texture, and sizes that match the overall style of the hotel and meet the requirements of its customers.
For business hotels or hotels with a simplified service, medium-quality towels with a more practical design and affordable prices may be suitable. It is also important to consider the number of guests staying at the hotel to ensure that there are enough towels for all customers.
Considering the needs of the hotel and the type of its audience will help you choose the perfect hotel towels that will meet the requirements of quality, convenience and aesthetics, contributing to a positive guest experience.
Choosing quality hotel towels will play an important role in enhancing the overall guest experience and meeting their needs. When guests stay at a hotel, they expect high quality service and comfort. High-quality towels made of soft long-fiber cotton not only provide comfort during use, but also contribute to the overall feeling of coziness and luxury.
Using high quality hotel towels can also help enhance a hotel’s reputation and increase customer loyalty. Guests will remember the positive experience of using high-quality and comfortable towels during their stay. High-quality towels can become part of a hotel’s unique image and help it stand out from the competition.
In summary, the choice of quality hotel towels determines not only the comfort and satisfaction of guests, but also the image and reputation of the hotel. High-quality towels made of long-fiber cotton provide softness, high moisture absorption and coziness for guests. They are an important component in creating a positive first impression and improving the overall hotel experience. The right choice of towels can increase the level of comfort, hygiene standards and guest satisfaction, which in turn will help to improve the hotel’s rating, increase customer loyalty and competitiveness in the market.
Hotel Solution, as a leading supplier of hotel textiles, offers a wide range of quality hotel towels that meet the highest quality standards and ensure comfort and guest satisfaction. We understand the importance of the right choice of hotel textiles for the successful operation of the hotel and are always ready to provide professional advice and support in choosing the best solutions. With Hotel Solution, your hotel will get the best value for money, which will help improve the level of service, enhance your reputation and successfully develop your business.
