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Description
The scope of the project covers two school buildings where educational activities are carried out and need thermal modernization. The technical condition of one of the buildings is poor, and the second has potential to become more energy efficient. The main goal of the project is therefore to improve energy efficiency in the school buildings through deep thermal modernization which will lead to reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
The main tasks planned for the implementation of the project include:
- Improving energy efficiency in the two school buildings;
- Investor supervision;
- Architectural design;
- Educational and information activities;
- Promotional activities;
- Project management;
The scope of the construction works and applied technologies results from the developed energy audits. Students using educational services provided in schools, employees of institutions, parents, local people and tourists will benefit from this project. The comfort of using the facilities will also increase and the air quality will improve.
Summary of project results
The project was implemented in partnership to address the direct issues faced by partners regarding the ecological efficiency of the buildings they used, as well as broader problems related to greenhouse gas emissions, climate warming, and ecological concerns.
The project leader was the Foundation of International Education (FEM), established on September 1, 1998, as a social initiative (non profit public benefit organizatin). The project partner was the Socio-Educational Association of Managers (SOSM) from Strzelce Opolskie, which operates first- and second-level vocational schools.
The project encompassed investments in two school buildings where primary and secondary education is conducted by the foundation and the association.
The project’s primary focus was to improve energy efficiency in the building owned by the Foundation of International Education in Wrocław (primary and secondary school) and the building of the Socio-Educational Association of Managers in Strzelce Opolskie (first- and second-level vocational school).
The project addressed identified challenges both in the operation of the two facilities and, more broadly, in environmental protection nationwide (e.g., poor air quality during the heating season). The main goal of the project was to improve energy efficiency in school buildings through comprehensive thermal modernization, which would reduce energy consumption.
The project’s implementation will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions, decreased use of primary energy, an increased share of renewable energy production (installation of photovoltaic panels, heat pumps), and enhanced public awareness regarding energy efficiency while ensuring the highest levels of energy and cost efficiency.
Beyond the primary goal, the project also contributed to:
improving the state of the natural environment by reducing harmful emissions of particulates and gases into the atmosphere;
lowering heating and ongoing maintenance costs;
improving the quality of public service infrastructure related to education;
enhancing the image of the area where the project was implemented;
raising the living standards of residents;
increasing awareness of energy conservation among residents.
The main issue nationwide is greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, to which the buildings covered by the project also contribute. For the building owners, rising energy costs for heating, hot water preparation, and lighting are a significant concern.
In the Strzelce Opolskie building, the technical condition also poses a challenge—it is difficult to heat the building in winter.
Technical Condition of the Foundation of International Education Building
The building is in good technical condition; however, its energy demand is relatively high, which is the primary challenge faced by the user. An energy audit showed that the potential for reducing the building''s final energy demand exceeded 40%.
Technical Condition of the Socio-Educational Association of Managers Building
The condition of most building components is rated as average, while the heating system is in poor condition. The building user faces difficulties in heating, frequent breakdowns, and disruptions that sometimes lead to class cancellations.
The problems identified by users were incorporated into energy audits, which proposed the best solutions supported by analyses of different variants for individual elements/improvements. These actions will reduce emissions and lower operating costs.
The project initially planned for the thermal modernization of school buildings owned by the Foundation of International Education in Wrocław and the Socio-Educational Association of Managers in Strzelce Opolskie. Within the framework of this project, energy modernization was carried out on the Foundation of International Education''s building located at 101 Racławicka Street in Wrocław and the Socio-Educational Association of Managers'' building located at 21 Jana Matejki Street in Strzelce Opolskie.
Detailed Scope of Upgrades for the Wrocław Building:
- Heating Modernization: Replacement of the heat source with a bivalent system consisting of a heat node and air-source heat pumps with a total capacity of approximately 190 kW, including:
a) Four air-source heat pumps
b) One air curtain
c) Work related to the modernization of the heat node
d) Energy management system enabling remote reading and archiving of heat consumption, optimizing the bivalent system’s operation with a weather station - Hot Water Source Modification: Adapting a new heat source for domestic hot water (DHW).
- Photovoltaic Installation: Photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 170 kW.
- Lighting: Replacement of all lighting with LED systems.
Detailed Scope of Upgrades for the Strzelce Opolskie Building:
- Replacement of the heat source with a gas boiler of approximately 49 kW and installation of an energy management system.
- Replacement of doors and windows.
- Roof insulation using styrofoam roofing materials.
- External wall insulation with polystyrene.
- Replacement of lighting with LED systems.
- Installation of photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 19.04 kW.
Additional Scope and Green-Blue Infrastructure
Towards the final stages of project implementation, additional funding opportunities allowed the expansion of thermal modernization work and the inclusion of green-blue infrastructure actions. The project leader applied for these extensions, which resulted in the following additional measures:
For the Foundation of International Education Building (Thermal Modernization):
- Expansion of the energy management system (EMS) to include temperature curve control based on internal readings.
- Modernization of ventilation systems, including technical documentation.
For the Socio-Educational Association of Managers Building (Thermal Modernization):
- Modernization of the central heating system, including replacement of radiators, installation of heat pumps, and expansion of the EMS.
- Insulation of the school’s foundation.
- Modernization of previously non-qualified interior lighting by replacing lamps with LEDs.
- Installation of a 60 kW energy storage system (two 30 kW modules) with a reactive power compensation system.
Green-Blue Infrastructure Activities
For the Foundation of International Education School Building:
- Modernization of external lighting by replacing lamps with LEDs.
- Installation of a submersible pump in an existing retention tank for watering current and planned greenery, a green wall, a green roof, and an outdoor eco-lab linked to the green wall and roof.
- Equipping two indoor eco-education rooms.
For the Socio-Educational Association of Managers School Building:
- Outdoor eco-lab installation.
- Modernization of external lighting by replacing lamps with LEDs.
- Equipping one indoor eco-education room.
Educational Activities Conducted:
- A media campaign, including social media, illustrating the environmental impact of "energy choices," and publication of articles in local newspapers.
- Organization of the "Renewable Energy Sources" competition.
- Eco-nature lessons in both schools.
These actions were appropriate to the project’s scale and contributed to achieving its goal of raising awareness about the benefits of energy saving, renewable energy usage, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, informational and promotional conferences were organized as part of the mandatory promotional component.
Thanks to the implementation of the project, measurable results were achieved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing energy demand, and increasing renewable energy production. Additionally, significant outcomes were realized in ecological education and raising awareness of environmental issues:
- Reduction or avoidance of CO2 emissions [t/year]: 357.44
- Renewable energy production [MWh/year]: 165.06 MWh/year
- Primary energy savings [MWh/year]: 776.12
- Number of awareness-raising campaigns conducted: 1
- Number of individuals reached by awareness-raising campaigns: 30,000
- Number of green and blue infrastructure investments completed: 10
- Number of buildings modernized for energy efficiency: 2
- Number of photovoltaic installations: 2
- Additional thermal energy generation capacity from installed heat pumps [MWt]: 194.8
- Number of heat pumps installed: 6 (4 for FEM, 2 for SOSM)
- Number of heat sources replaced/modernized: 2
- Number of energy management systems installed in buildings: 2
- Area of buildings undergoing thermal modernization [m²]: 10,741
The ecological benefits of the project positively impacted all residents of the Opolskie and Dolnośląskie regions by reducing CO2 emissions and raising environmental awareness.
However, the primary beneficiaries of the project are the students and teachers in the school facilities:
- For FEM: Teachers – 153, Students – 750
- For SOSM: Teachers – 33, Students – 320
In total, the project directly benefits 1256 individuals.
The benefits of thermal modernization are twofold: first, the improved and more efficient heating systems significantly enhance the comfort of the facilities, with energy management systems enabling optimal control. Second, the savings in heating and electricity costs are reinvested by both the project leader and partner into their core educational activities, thereby improving the quality of education at the institutions.