Belgrade, 4 April 2024 – Beginning of works on renovating the building of the Institute for Advancement of Education and Upbringing has announced a new initiative within which 26 buildings of central government in Belgrade will be renovated, in order to become more energy efficient. This initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Mining and Energy and close cooperation with the Administration for Joint Services of the Republic Bodies, is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded with a loan by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).

“We have secured 40 million euros for the energy renovation of 26 out of 56 central government buildings in Belgrade, including the Palace of Serbia, and these works are supposed to be finished by 2027, thus giving our city a new look. Energy saving is something that we all benefit from, something that our citizens who have been paying electricity less, or beneficiaries of the subsidies for replacing doors and windows, or installing boilers and solar panels are the most keenly aware of,” said Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović.

She added that after the renovation, and with all the measures being implemented, the Institute would be yearly saving around 10,000 euros in bills, and that the carbon-dioxide emission would be halved. Within the energy renovation of the building, integrated energy and water monitoring system would be introduced (indicating energy consumption in the building), as well as a centralised cooling system with window sensors (the air-conditioning would automatically be switched off once a window is opened). Additionally, a new remote heating substation will be built, and thermal insulation of the walls and the roof will be enhanced, while all the lamps will be replaced by LED lighting.

“Energy efficiency is key to reducing emissions caused by buildings. This is thus an important element in the fight against climate change. That's why the EU has invested so far around EUR 150 million in grants for the renovation of public buildings in Serbia. Our focus is on buildings in the educational, health and social sectors. Climate change is real, it is affecting us all and South-East Europe is no exception. This is why projects like those have a meaning that goes way beyond the mere renovation of buildings, they are part and parcel of our climate action and energy transition,” said Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia.

UNDP Serbia Resident Representative Yakup Beris said that increased energy efficiency of public buildings is beneficial for our health, environment and budget, since it lowers electricity and heating bills, as well as the emission of greenhouse gases and polluting particles.

“The saving of energy which we will achieve by renovating the 26 central government buildings is equal to, for example, the annual consumption of electricity of all the citizens in the municipality of Sokobanja. Should all public buildings in Serbia be renovated, one thermal power plant would become redundant. It is therefore important to continue their energy renovation with financing through loans, public-private partnerships and public funds,” clarified Beris.

Among the buildings that would be first in line for energy renovation within the project “Energy Efficiency in Central Government Buildings” are the buildings of the Institute for Intellectual Property, Directorate for Measures and Precious Metals, Agricultural Land Administration, National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with Russia and China, as well as the buildings of the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government and Ministry of Mining and Energy.