Low emission schools

Taking the example of the low emission transformation of Saint Andrew Gymnasial School, Bucharest’s approach shows three major areas of good practice. 

The first is the profound transformation of the school’s infrastructure, from an outdated facility into a Nearly Zero-Energy Building, or NZEB, digital school. As well as retrofitting the existing building, a second, new facility was built – with high quality insulation, solar panels and smart management. Buildings were also fitted with modern digital teaching equipment. 

The second area of intervention is an educational programme for all students in schools retrofitted under the ELENA financing facility. This includes developing interactive training sessions, teaching the importance of efficient resource use, and informing students about the technologies used in modernising their schools. Among the teaching materials produced were special working fiches and short online movies. The star of these YouTube videos is a specially created mascot – N-Zebi koala bear – a constant presence within schools and events linked to NZEB public buildings. A competition was also organised, inciting students to imagine and design energy-efficient buildings. 

The third aspect is the integration of the school within a broader project, designed to create energy communities and positive energy districts. During weekends and holidays, the school becomes a net positive electricity producer for the surrounding area and facilities. 

The practice uses an integrated approach, addressing environmental, economic and social dimensions simultaneously. 

Environmentally, it focuses on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability through measures such as thermal insulation, renewable energy integration, energy-efficient systems, and energy transfer to the community. This contributes to mitigating climate change and improving air quality, improving local living conditions.

Economically, the practice generates opportunities by stimulating local businesses and job growth through renovation and modernisation activities. Additionally, the integration of renewable energy sources reduces long-term energy costs, leading to economic savings for the community. 

Socially, the practice enhances the quality of educational facilities and curricula, creating better learning conditions and relevant environment protection information. Paying attention to safety enhancements and accessibility improvements, it ensures inclusivity and equity within the community. 

This integrated approach tackles urban challenges holistically, fostering sustainable development and improving the overall wellbeing of citizens. 

Furthermore, the practice promotes community engagement and empowerment by involving residents in sustainability initiatives and educational workshops. By fostering a sense of ownership and pride, it strengthens social cohesion and encourages active participation in creating sustainable communities. 

A participatory approach is central to this practice, through the involvement of various stakeholders, including residents, educational institutions, local and national authorities, NGOs, researchers and private companies. 

During the infrastructure development phase (blueprints, design and technical), decisions were discussed and adopted among local officials, school authorities and designers from the private sector. There were also consultations with government authorities, as they play a crucial role in providing regulatory guidance and securing funding. Educational institutions contributed with insights into educational requirements and preferences, ensuring that the renovated spaces meet the needs of students and teachers. 

During the awareness and education campaign, the involvement of stakeholders was wider, including teachers, students, local NGOs, communication experts and local officials. 

Extensive stakeholder involvement takes place during the community efficiency development phase. This is done under a separate research project, called KINETIC. Identifying a wide range of solutions to move towards a positive energy district and create energy communities involves stakeholders from education, research, private and public sectors. In addition, NGOs bring specialised knowledge and expertise in areas such as energy efficiency and sustainability, while residents provide valuable input regarding their concerns and aspirations for the project. 

The Low emission schools project has made a difference by tackling several critical problems, including high energy consumption, poor indoor air quality, safety deficiencies, limited access to renewable energy, and a lack of community cohesion. Here are some highlights: 

Impact and added value: 

• Energy efficiency and environmental impact: reduced energy consumption lowers CO2 emissions and contributes to environmental sustainability goals; 
• Healthier learning environment: improved insulation, air quality systems, and natural or LED lighting create a healthier and more comfortable environment, enhancing wellbeing and educational outcomes; 
• Safety and accessibility: implementation of modern safety and accessibility features;
• Community cohesion is increased. 

Results achieved: 

• Energy savings: the transformed building consumes 40% less energy and 35% less water; 
• Enhanced air quality: ventilation systems with heat recovery improve indoor air quality, reducing the risk of respiratory issues for 1640 students and their teachers; 
• Renewable energy: a new 45 kW photovoltaic system decreases reliance on non-renewable energy sources; 
• During weekends and school holidays, this energy is transferable to other consumers;
• Safety and accessibility enhancements: new fire detection systems, emergency lighting and accessibility features, including ramps and sanitary facilities for people with disabilities; 
• Community engagement: active participation in relevant workshops.

This practice is relevant for other cities due to its multifaceted approach in addressing common urban challenges. Transforming old educational buildings into NZEB learning spaces helps cities to achieve several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The integration of renewable energy and energy-efficient measures contributes to the Urban Agenda for the EU's goal of promoting sustainable urban development. Additionally, initiatives like these align with the EU Territorial Agenda's objectives of promoting environmentally sustainable growth.  

Replicating this practice can enable cities across Europe to enhance educational infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions, and create healthier and more sustainable communities. The awareness and education campaign increases the positive impact on the community and encourages long-lasting outcomes. Finally, the Positive Energy District approach is a unique feature bringing high added value. 

Supportive policies, and commitment from relevant authorities, are the most important elements in the successful transfer of this practice to other cities. This enables strong and relevant stakeholder engagement and cooperation. A clear regulatory framework, technical assistance and reliable funding are also key to ensuring the successful implementation and adaptation of the practice in new urban contexts. 

In the case of District 6, two strategic documents are particularly relevant: an Urban Development Integrated Plan and Local Greening and Digital Strategy. These align with regional level strategies for regional development and smart specialisation. Also relevant here are the national level allocation of European funds (ERDF, Horizon, ESF, RRF etc), and sectoral development decisions on aspects such as education, environment, energy, digital and smart specialisation. 

The practice can be adapted to suit other city contexts by tailoring the solutions to the specific needs, priorities, and resources of each community. The design and technical infrastructure solutions are particularly adaptable to different urban contexts. 

The approaches to developing working materials and encouraging stakeholder engagement in the awareness campaign and Positive Energy District approach can easily be transferred. They can be customised to the needs and scale of each new site, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.