România Eficientă (Efficient Romania), the largest private project of national interest dedicated to energy efficiency in buildings, carried out by Energy Policy Group (EPG) with funding from the official sponsor OMV Petrom, is entering the stage of energy renovation to the latest standards of the first school selected in this program. Today, the renovation works started at the C10 Building of the “Elie Radu” Technological Energy High School in Ploiești, a building that houses both classrooms, on the ground floor and a dormitory, on the upper floors.
“We can all contribute to a sustainable future and a cleaner environment, through more efficient energy consumption. Romania has a huge potential to achieve, through energy efficiency, significant reductions in energy consumption. Renovation of public buildings and homes will play a key role in raising the standard of living and sustainable economic development, according to the climate agenda,” said Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom.
“Investing in schools means investing in the future. Therefore, we are happy to announce that we have started the in-depth renovation works at this school in Ploiești – investment with a pilot role. Despite the difficult economic context generated by the pandemic, which made it difficult to carry out energy rehabilitation projects in schools, today we took action,” added Radu Dudău, EPG director and coordinator of the Efficient Romania project.
“A comfortable and healthy indoor environment in schools is essential for the well-being of students. Energy efficiency measures are important not only in terms of the savings they produce, but also in terms of the benefits related to children’s health and school productivity, with long-term effects on the development of society. We are grateful to the Efficient Romania project that the first pilot school building selected for renovation to nZEB standards is from Ploiești. We hope that this project will make a solid contribution to triggering the Wave of Renewal that Romania needs so much,” said Andrei-Liviu Volosevici, the mayor of Ploiești.
Currently, the school is facing many problems related to thermal and sound insulation, lighting system, as well as low indoor air quality. The total investment estimated for the rehabilitation of this building is about one million euro, and of the results will benefit around 250 students and 60 teachers.
The renovation will be carried out, for the first time in the country, at nZEB standards (building with almost zero energy consumption, due to a high degree of energy efficiency). This will lead to substantial energy savings and thus to a significant reduction in bills, as well as a radical improvement in the conditions of use of the school, with direct benefits for the well-being of students and teachers.
Among works to be carried out by the Efficient Romania team is the modernization of the lighting system, by replacing the existing fluorescent and incandescent luminaires with some luminaires with high energy efficiency and long life, offered by the sponsor Signify, as well as the introduction of equipment for the production of energy from renewable sources.
“Against the background of the new renovation standards imposed by European legislation and national methodology, we decided to carry out in advance the renovation of a pilot building, of relatively small size, in order to develop a rigorous technical and financial model for in-depth renovations that we make within the program,” say the organization’s officials.
“This is the reason why we decided to include in the program a building within the Elie Radu Technological Energy High School in Ploiești”.
Launched in June 2019, the Efficient Romania project was built around two strategic directions: information and education campaigns for the public on the benefits of energy efficiency on society, economy and environment, as well as energy renovation works of some public schools in Romania at international standards, with a role model for public authorities.