LocationsEnergy-renovated Primary School "Knez Ivo od Semberija" as part of the Low - Carbon project
The building of the elementary school "Knez Ivo od Semberije" in Bijeljina shone with a new appearance at the beginning of the new school year. Students and employees were welcomed by warmer and safer classrooms, as well as a nicer and more organized school.
As a result of the roof leaking, the smell of moisture spread throughout the premises of this school for years, which harmed the health of students and employees.
"The humidity really bothered me because of an allergic sneeze. The wooden floor was rotting due to moisture, which additionally contributed to the allergic reaction both in me and in some students. In addition, the roof was leaking in the corridor area, and if the bins were not installed in time, there was a possibility of slipping," said French language teacher Nena Babić.
Nena Babić
The roof of the school building was replaced, and a new facade was applied, which was realized thanks to the support of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency of the Republika Srpska through the project "Scaling-Up Investment in Low-Carbon Public Buildings in BiH - Low Carbon", financed by Green Climate Fund (GCF), and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) in cooperation with partners in BiH.
By changing the roof of the school, the working and living conditions on the school premises were significantly improved.
"The school premises are warmer, the consumption of heating material is significantly reduced, and therefore the harmful impact that coal as an energy source has on the environment is also reduced," said Svetlana Žugić, a school pedagogue.
Svetlana Žugić
The absence of moisture in the classrooms creates a pleasant atmosphere that encourages students and teaching staff to work better.
The teachers believe that the ecologically responsible energy renovation of the school contributed to the education of students about the importance of sustainability and environmental protection, and the importance of creating a pleasant environment for quality work and training.
"I go to classes with pleasure, I proudly talk about where I work, and I try even harder to represent my school in the best light. My friends who used to go to this school are amazed by the positive changes that have been made and rightly say that we are a collective that is taking big steps forward," Professor Babić concluded.
The goal of the Low Carbon project is to remove financial barriers to increase investment in public facilities, which contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, creates savings, creates new "green" jobs, and supports the country's economic development.
