12.04.2024 | People
Lyceum and daycare centre directors, along with parents of young pupils, shed light on the positive impacts of energy efficiency upgrades on the learning environment and on students’ overall welfare.
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- Improvements to these structures offer tangible benefits to the environment, resulting in primary energy savings of 39%.
- Chernivtsi, along with its educational institutions, has opened its doors to nearly 10,000 IDPs. Over 2,000 of them attend schools and nearly 800 children go to daycare centres in the city.
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains committed to investing in the green transition as part of its integration with Europe. In Chernivtsi, in the west, a clutch of newly renovated public buildings has boosted the city’s capacity to accommodate internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provide them access to essential social services. With loan financing from Nefco, grant funding from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P), and technical assistance from Sweden, the city of Chernivtsi has implemented much-needed energy efficiency measures in 16 schools, 15 daycare centres, and two healthcare institutions.
In Chernivtsi, in the west, a clutch of newly renovated public buildings has boosted the city’s capacity to accommodate internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provide them access to essential social services.
The improvements to these structures offer tangible benefits to the environment, ensuring a comfortable indoor temperature range of 19–22°C, improved air quality, and better lighting. Resulting in primary energy savings of 39%, these changes are estimated to save the municipal budget around EUR 1.73 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Improvements resulted in:
39%
energy savings
40,800
benefitted citizens
€1.73m
estimated savings annually to municipal budget
19/22°C
comfortable temperature range
“Public buildings are a substantial component of the community. There are more than 200 of them in total, and they are a direct source of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, by modernising them, we improve the city’s environmental situation,” says Svitlana Khimiychuk, Deputy Director of the Department of Economics of Chernivtsi City Council.
Impact on people and communities
Due to its location away from the conflict, Chernivtsi has emerged as a hub where IDPs can live in relative safety and begin to rebuild their lives. This important position comes with certain challenges.
“Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the burden on cities that are considered relatively safe has increased dramatically as has the strain on their social infrastructure,” observes Iryna Tkachuk, Director of the Department of Education of Chernivtsi City Council.
“Chernivtsi, along with its educational institutions, opened its doors to nearly 10,000 IDPs, who had been residing in these facilities for over 18 months [since the onset of the invasion]. Over 2,000 of them attend schools and nearly 800 children go to daycare centres here. Social infrastructure is indeed very important, and it needs to be improved and given a new life, a new role,” she points out.
These updated municipal buildings help promote the well-being of the people that use them, including approximately 17,800 children and staff and 23,000 potential patients. Here, lyceum and daycare centre directors, along with parents of young pupils, shed light on the positive impacts of these upgrades on the learning environment and on students’ overall welfare.
Yavorska Lyubov, Director of Lyceum No. 13
Our school, built in 1984, featured a brick building with wooden windows, which by 2018 had thinned and dried. The building’s indoor temperature, particularly in autumn and spring, proved quite uncomfortable – heat escaped through window cracks due to the outdated system causing inconsistencies in radiator temperatures. The school’s heating system needed a complete overhaul.
Following the implementation of several measures, we are delighted with the results. They have enabled us to halve heat consumption, making it more comfortable for children to remain at school during warmer periods such as spring, early autumn, and summer.
We are delighted with the results. They have enabled us to halve heat consumption, making it more comfortable for children to remain at school during warmer periods such as spring, early autumn, and summer.
Yavorska Lyubov
Angela Pochynok, Director of Lyceum No.4
Before the institution was modernised, we encountered certain heating supply issues as we were reliant on the central heating supply network. As a result, some rooms experienced significantly lower temperatures than desired. As the brick building was constructed in 1973, it lacked an external insulation system essential for energy efficiency.
Everyone has felt the impact of the changes, from the staff to the children and their parents. Now that we can independently regulate the heat supply in each classroom and on every floor, we can conserve heat while maintaining the temperature we need. The children have experienced the difference firsthand; even on chilly days, they comfortably walk around in classrooms without outerwear, some even opting for just t-shirts.
Most importantly, our newfound financial autonomy is reflected in reduced bills, allowing us to allocate funds more evenly throughout the year.
Now that we can independently regulate the heat supply in each classroom and on every floor, we can conserve heat while maintaining the temperature we need.
Angela Pochynok
Tetyana Pecei, Director of Daycare Centre No.8
I have served as the head of the institution since 2019, by which time the Nefco project was nearing completion. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a beautifully renovated facade. However, when I looked at photos of the building before the project, I was struck at how far it was from its current refurbished condition.
In terms of energy efficiency, I learned everything about this institution by talking to my colleagues. As I oversaw the completed project, both colleagues and parents say that the indoor temperature has improved.
In terms of energy efficiency, I learned everything about this institution by talking to my colleagues.
Tetyana Pecei
Maria, mother of Liza, a 3-year-old daycare pupil
My eldest daughter attended daycare centre No. 8, DyvoSad, before it was modernised; now, my younger daughter is also a pupil here. As a parent, I can feel the difference, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to Nefco for the work done.
This reconstruction has significantly impacted the lives of our children. It used to be very hot here, and the air was dry, which had a negative effect on their health. My eldest daughter used to get sick often, but the younger one falls ill less frequently. Now, it’s possible to regulate the temperature in classrooms independently. As a result, our children work better and are less tired, and are ready to face the day.
Our children work better and are less tired, and are ready to face the day.
Maria
Albina, mother of Ivanka, a 6-year-old daycare pupil
When we, as parents, were first informed about the scope of the planned work, we couldn’t believe it could be implemented on such a scale. However, with each passing day, we watched with joy as the institution was modernised and transformed.
We noticed improvements right away. Old wooden windows used to make it cold and draughty, but that’s no longer the case. The raw, unpleasant smell has also vanished. Most importantly, our daycare centre has become the pride of the entire neighborhood, not only because it is energy-efficient but also because it is aesthetically pleasing—all thanks to Nefco. After the project was completed, visiting the daycare centre has become even more enjoyable. It’s a beautiful, warm, and safe environment where everything is designed with children in mind. Here, parents can leave their little ones for the entire day, confident that their health and well-being are being looked after.
Visiting the daycare centre has become even more enjoyable. It’s a beautiful, warm, and safe environment where everything is designed with children in mind.
Albina
More information about the project:
Read a case story about the Chernivtsi project
Read a fact sheet about the Chernivtsi project