The Rene Moawad Foundation (RMF) has begun retrofitting streetlights and installing photovoltaic systems in six plazas across Ardeh town in Zgharta as part of a European Union-funded project entitled “Towards Sustainable Energy Consumption in Select Local Communities of North Lebanon.”

The foundation unveiled the project during a ceremony held at Saint Rita hall in Ardeh under the sponsorship of Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian.

The ceremony brought together Ziad Zein, the representative of the Energy Ministry and vice-president of the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, Roxanne Moukarzel, the representative of the Interior Ministry, Michel Moawad, the RMF’s executive director, Nasser Al Hammami and head of the Sustainable Urban Demonstration Energy Projects (SUDEP) along with mayors and representatives of civil society groups.

Moawad said that by the time the project is complete, Ardeh will become a model village that empowers its residents to remain on their land.

The second phase of the project will feature the installation of 300 residential solar heating systems, which, will result in large amounts of savings on the energy bill of the town’s residents, Moawad said.

Thus, the adoption of sustainable energy practices will benefit the town not only on the environmental but also on the economical and social level, Moawad said.