Twenty public institutions, including schools, kindergartens and hospitals of Chisinau, will be rehabilitated next year so that they become energy efficient. In a news conference at IPN, the project’s director Sergiu Ungureanu, energy expert, said the budget is of €25 million and the works are to be completed by the end of next year. By next summer, half of the given institutions will be thermally insulated and will have their windows and lighting systems changed.
Sergiu Ungureanu said in Moldova most of the buildings are not energy efficient. The largest losses of energy are sustained in the residential sector because the buildings are old and no money is invested in the improvement of infrastructure and thermal insulation. Owing to the high costs, the temperature and ventilation capacity in schools, kindergartens and hospitals are often reduced so as to save energy. Energy efficiency measures are needed as the losses of heat will be decreased and the electric consumption will diminish and the costs for such services can be thus cut by 30-40%. “The first stage of the project covers municipal buildings, such as kindergartens, schools and two large hospitals of the city – “Saint Trinity” and the Children’s Hospital “Vitalie Ignatencko,” stated the project’s director.
Mihail Iurcu, technical director of the Municipal Hospital “Saint Trinity”, said the building of the medical institution is over 40 years old and its heating system dates from the Soviet period. Both the patients and the medical personnel suffer in winter because of losses of heat. The improvement of energy efficiency will not only save municipal funds, but will also increase the comfort of the patients and staff.
Vera Balanel, director of the Lyceum “Vasile Vasilache”, said half of the school was already rehabilitated and it is warm where works were performed. The lighting system in two classes was changed for an energy efficient one and the power consumption halved. In the other half of the school, it is cold in winter. When the temperatures are very low, it is very cold in the gym and physical education classes are replaced with other classes, such as chess. The school does not have hot water and the kitchenware is washed with water heated by an electric boiler that consumes a lot of electricity.
Energy systems expert Mihai Brăguța said the technical audit at the chosen institutions showed their heating systems need to be renovated or replaced as they do not include temperature regulating devices or thermal points. The current heating systems cannot ensue thermal comfort when the temperatures are negative as the largest part of heat is lost.
The Energy Efficiency Project in the municipality of Chisinau is financed by the EBRD and EIB. In the near future, there will be done calculations and compiled reports on the done work and the measures proposed for ensuring energy efficiency. These will be sent to the commission for dwellings and communal services of the Chisinau Municipal Council and to the EBRD experts for appraisal and for formulation of recommendations.
