the former Yugoslav Republic of MACEDONIA

The Orce Nikolov kindergarten in the Municipality of Karposh in Skopje has just become the country’s second fully energy-efficient school, completely refurbished this year with the support of UNDP.

The key aim of UNDP’s two kindergarten projects has been to demonstrate and raise awareness of the financial and environmental benefits of greater energy efficiency in the building sector.

The first energy-efficient kindergarten in the country, Srnicka Kalinka, was officially launched in the capital’s municipality of Aerodrom earlier this year, and UNDP then joined forces with the municipality of Karposh to replicate this model.

Together, the municipality of Karpos and UNDP invested 70,000 US dollars to change the windows, façades and roof of the school and to install a hot water solar system in the 46-year-old building—all in full accordance with EU standards and best practices.

According to UNDP estimates, the energy savings of the kindergarten will amount to 60%, starting from this heating season.

A recent study by UNDP showed it was possible to reduce the energy costs of any building by 20% to 30% just by introducing simple efficiency measures. This could help municipalities make great budget savings.

“With projects like this we are sending a clear message that investing in energy efficiency in buildings is the cheapest, easiest and simplest way to save money, reduce our energy bills, and cut down on harmful pollution”, says Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., adding that “ UNDP stands ready to continue helping central and local governments throughout the country to introduce energy efficiency measures and ensure a greener future for us all.”

Both kindergartens were refurbished as part of the project called Energy Efficiency in the Building Sector, implemented since 2009 by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Economy, the Association of Local Self Government Units (ZELS) and the financial support of the Austrian Development Cooperation.

The main objective of this project is to contribute to the reduction of energy consumption in residential and public buildings, to regulate energy losses and greenhouse gas emissions, and to increase the country’s energy independence.