School facilities in six local governments that were part of the German-Serbian development cooperation project “Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings” are also expected to save more.
Since 2015, a large number of schools and kindergartens have received good insulation, joinery and heating from renewable sources: in Priboj, Bajina Basta, Apatin, Nis, Uzice and Kraljevo. Helping them is valuable because these facilities were among the largest wastes of energy, RTS reports.
“We are making significant savings because we are changing fossil fuels, reducing energy consumption in public buildings, which is ultimately reflected in our budget”, said the Deputy Mayor of Priboj, Sasa Vasilic.
For the energy renovation of these facilities, the German Government provided technical support to local governments. A national typology of kindergartens and schools has been developed with a plan for energy investment.
Project leader Stefan Hayek says that Germany has allocated four million euros for the project, and the European Union has co-financed a part of 1.5 million euros under Horizon program.
“Germany continues to support the Serbian energy sector, and energy efficiency is particularly important as it contributes to combating climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and technological development”, said German Embassy Development Cooperation Chief Leoni Reimers.
The Government has announced that it will soon form a special Energy Efficiency Fund, which will pour 10 million euros from consumers and energy producers. More help will come from the European Commission.
“We will have 20 million euros towards local self-government units, but it is also important for the citizens, because we will go for the demolition of residential buildings”, said Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy, Stevica Dejansky.
Professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, Milica Jovanovic Popovic, points out that the result is that people live more comfortably and better at a lower cost. A great deal of energy is saved at the state level, he added.
With the support of GIZ, 22,500 residential buildings have already been listed, which will accelerate their energy renovation.
