Christina Verchere, OMV Petrom: “Through România Eficientă program we want to educate future generations and demonstrate that energy can be consumed responsibly”

“Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption in the European Union. Renovating existing buildings can lead to significant energy savings and lower CO2 emissions. Through România Eficientă program we want to increase the quality of life, educate future generations and demonstrate that energy can be consumed responsibly. The new face of the Zig-Zag kindergarten is a proof that România Eficientă can make a difference and we continue to support it, working closely with our partners and local authorities”, said Christina Verchere, OMV Petrom CEO.

OMV Petrom and Energy Policy Group (EPG) recently completed the structural strengthening, extension and energy efficiency works at the Zig-Zag Kindergarten in Ovidiu. This is the third educational unit in the country to be upgraded to the nZEB standard – nearly zero-emission building, as part of the România Eficientă program. The budget for upgrading the building amounted to EUR 1.5 million.

“With the inauguration of the renovation and modernization of the ZigZag kindergarten in Ovidiu, the România Eficientă program is already at its third extensive renovation to nZEB requirements of schools in Romania. The complexity of the work was unparalleled, involving the construction of a new connecting building to a former decommissioned heating substation, which was thus integrated into the whole educational unit, providing valuable additional space for the kindergarten’s educational activities”, stated Radu Dudău, President of EPG and coordinator of the România Eficientă program.

With the completion of the refurbishment works, the 1950s Zig-Zag Kindergarten building has been upgraded from energy class E to the highest energy efficiency class, A. Total annual energy consumption will be reduced by more than 60% and carbon emissions will be about six times lower. The exterior insulation, the installation of energy-efficient joinery and the installation of a hybrid centralized climate control system with heat pumps all contribute to this result. Also, part of the kindergarten’s energy needs will come from its own sources thanks to the new photovoltaic panel system equipped with inverter and smart meter.

The works carried out by the România Eficientă program consisted of:
1. Reinforcement of the building’s resistance structure
2. Construction of a connecting building between the kindergarten building and the former heating substation
3. Expansion of usable space with 2 new classrooms
4. Thermal insulation of roof, exterior walls and floors
5. Installation of energy-efficient exterior and interior joinery
6. Installation of a hybrid centralized climate control system with heat pumps, gas boiler and underfloor heating
7. Rehabilitation of the domestic hot water plant
8. Replacement of the electrical installation and fitting of a lighting system with LED luminaires
9. Installation of a modern ventilation system with heat recovery
10. Installation of a photovoltaic panel system equipped with inverter and smart meter
11. Installation of electrically adjustable aluminum sunshades on bright sunny windows.
 
As a result of the extensive project carried out through România Eficientă, the Zig-Zag Kindergarten will be able to offer children and teaching staff a safe, healthy and comfortable environment, and operating and maintenance costs will be greatly reduced. 

The România Eficientă Program, run by EPG and funded by OMV Petrom, will continue with new projects for the energy renovation of educational units in Romania, educational activities and events, as well as information campaigns with the objective of increasing energy efficiency in buildings. 
So far, the budget for the three modernization projects under the program amounts to around EUR 4 million.  The first unit renovated through România Eficientă was the “Elie Radu” Energy Technological High School in Ploiești in 2022, followed by the Liliești Secondary School in Băicoi (Prahova County) in 2023.
 
România Eficientă is a nation-wide private project carried out by Energy Policy Group (EPG) in partnership and with funding from OMV Petrom. The project started in the summer of 2019 and consists of carrying out a national program for the promotion of energy efficiency. România Eficientă aims to support achieving Romania’s targets for 2030 in terms of reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency, both through information and education campaigns, and by carrying out concrete major renovation projects in public schools in different regions of the country.