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PEP – a catalyst for positive school changes
The main objective for schools in the 21st century is creating an improved learning environment, one that is also energy efficient and economical. Energy efficiency is not limited to awareness and care for the environment, but involves making long-term investments, which help schools to save money. Primary school “Josip Broz-Tito” from Valandovo is one of PEP’s partners that has been working towards improving energy efficiency for some time now.
In 2008, after successfully applying for entry in the PEP renovations program, the school secured funds for a new boiler, one which meets the latest standards. Expectations were that this would help reduce gas costs (diesel fuel) and contribute towards repaying the investment within the next 3 years.
After the completion of this project, the benefits were more than obvious. This school has had some serious changes in its physical appearance, as well as in the quality of the work and study conditions. The following changes have been made so far:
- Replacement of almost all the windows and doors in the school and repair of the floor in some of the classrooms and the school hall;
- Fencing and improvements to the school yard were made, while façade renovations are currently under way;
- A warmer and more pleasant study environment was created in the classrooms which were also equipped with new hands-on materials;
- Replacement of the carpentry in the satellite schools and new boilers in some of these schools.
Looking back a few years, it must be said that the physical condition of the school’s buildings, which house close to 500 pupils, did not come even close to meeting twenty first century standards. Working conditions in the school were poor, almost unbearable during winter.
“Because of the aged windows, there was a constant draft in the classrooms and hallways, and the old heating boiler was too weak to warm up the place. When temperatures dropped below 0 outside, the temperature in some classrooms barely reached 8 oC. We fought the cold, while at the same time struggled with the awfully high heating bills” – said Katerina Guguljanova, the school’s principal.
With the old boiler, the school used to spend up to 30 tones of fuel per season. After the installation of the new boiler, the fuel consumption is almost twice lower than before – in 2009, 17 tones of fuel were spent, which means that more than 400.000 denars were saved only during the last year or over 700.000 denars over the last two years. Through effective management of these savings, the investments mentioned above were made to improve the school’s conditions.
In this school, the students’ education on energy efficiency is considered to be an essential part of the living in the 21st century.
“The central school is already in far better shape than before, and the only other thing it needs is a new roof. But, we are thrilled nevertheless. We’ve done so much in the last two years with the funds we managed to save by reducing our heating costs. Now we turn to the satellite schools; they too require new façades, new carpentry and other interventions” – said the School Board President, Ilija Mitkov.
Sometimes, little interventions lead to big changes. The PEP team truly believes that the positive changes in primary school Josip Broz-Tito, as an example of a success story, will be replicated in many other primary schools across Macedonia.
Previous News: 2009; 2008; 2007; |
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,,Conditions are much better than before. Hygiene is at a higher level, the school is warmer, and at the same time we’re spending less money” – pointed out the principal of “Josip Broz-Tito” primary school, Valandovo.
,,Our next step is replacing our lights with energy efficient lights”
,,…and we plan to install solar panel collectors that will produce hot water for the showers in the sport’s hall”
In this school, the students’ education on energy efficiency is considered to be an essential part of the living in the 21st century.
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