Improving energy efficiency in Astana schools, EBRD

The project will significantly reduce the school's annual budget for heating and electricity and will regulate temperatures in the building, making the learning environment more comfortable for students and staff. This is important in view of rising energy costs and the limited capacity of Astana's municipal heating networks. In addition, the increased energy efficiency of the building will help to lower emissions of greenhouse gases, the EBRD's press service said. The project grant was signed at School No. 25 during the 2011 EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Astana. The EBRD aimed to offset the carbon footprint of staging a major event attended by many overseas visitors. It also drew public attention to environmental issues and to the importance of investment in energy efficiency. Teaming up with the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC), the Bank provided a €160,000 grant for the energy efficiency measures at the school. "In addition to offsetting carbon emissions," notes Janet Heckman, EBRD Director for Kazakhstan, "we wanted to demonstrate that investment in energy efficiency is not just good for the environment, but makes good financial sense. The school will save a lot of money on its energy bills - not to mention warmer, more comfortable rooms for the students." The UNDP supervised contractors, carried out the quality assurance of works and assisted the school as it commissioned further maintenance measures for the new equipment installed. The UNDP-EBRD project helped the school to replace its windows and install a modern heating system. As a result of these works, thermal energy consumption is expected to fall by 32-37 per cent per year, and CO2 emissions by 150-200 tonnes per year. Furthermore, automation of the heating system will reduce running costs and extend the life of the school building.