In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, guest host Diana Kruzman sits down with Irina Sokhodov (Ukrainian Green Building Council) and Olena Rybak (Managing Director, IC Ukraine) for a practical conversation on green reconstruction and energy-resilient rebuilding.

They break down what sustainable recovery looks like on the ground: rehabilitating schools and hospitals, repurposing existing buildings for housing, improving district heating and water systems, and meeting donor requirements for energy reduction and emissions performance.

The discussion also explores the trade-offs teams face in real projects—how to balance speed, affordability, and long-term efficiency—plus what “nearly zero energy buildings” mean, how renewable energy can support building performance, and why the biggest energy resource is often the energy we never have to use.

Why Listen?

Understand what “green reconstruction” looks like in real projects
Learn how donor criteria shape energy and sustainability decisions
Get a clear explanation of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB)
Hear the real-world tradeoffs: faster vs greener vs affordable
Explore the role of district heating, on-site renewables, and grid strategy
Discover why energy efficiency is still the biggest opportunity

00:00 – Welcome to Harvesting Wisdom
00:30 – Diana introduces the guests & the focus on green reconstruction
02:30 – IC Ukraine’s background: energy efficiency + public building rehab
06:00 – Post-crisis priorities: housing, critical infrastructure, water/heat systems
09:00 – Green certification + energy modeling: how it carries into public projects
12:00 – Personal “why”: careers rooted in sustainability and energy systems
16:00 – Then vs now: how energy efficiency became a widely accepted priority
20:00 – The big tradeoff: build greener vs build faster (budget vs apartments)
25:00 – Who makes the calls: donors, eligibility criteria, and national standards
29:00 – What NZEB means + what it takes to reach it
33:00 – District heating vs individual systems (regional differences)
37:00 – On-site renewables vs grid mix: how to think about both
42:00 – Solar growth, local generation, and practical limitations
47:00 – Long-term strategy: efficiency upgrades as the biggest “energy source”
52:00 – Closing + subscribe reminder

Green Building & Energy Resilience: Reconstructing Smarter Communities