Introduction of Renewable Energy Sources and Improving Energy Efficiency in Strumyani and Vasilevo

The aim of the project was to introduce energy efficient street lighting in Strumyani municipality and increase the energy efficiency of a municipal school building in Vasilevo municipality, including by improving its general physical condition and aesthetics and the introduction of renewable energy sources / RES / for the needs of the same building. and adjacent street lighting. The project has contributed to the environmental education of children and the awareness of the general public on environmental issues and increases their commitment to the environment. The implementation of the project has a long-term effect on reducing the consumption of electricity and heat in both municipalities, reducing CO2 emissions in the cross-border region. The administrations of the municipalities of Strumyani and Vasilevo have reduced the costs for energy, respectively for the maintenance of street lighting and school. Targeted investments reduce CO2 emissions by 20% and energy consumption by 35% for each of the project partners. This project has increased the capacity of local public institutions for sustainable energy planning, implementation of energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy sources.

The main results of the project are:
- enriched experience and increased capacity of 30 representatives of municipal administrations for implementation of energy efficiency  policies;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

- shared good and bad practices in the management of public infrastructure in the municipalities of Vasilevo and Strumyani, in terms of energy efficiency; 

- presentation and training by an external consultant of the municipal teams, including presentation of good practices with application of RES and energy efficiency measures, regarding the public infrastructure from the cross-border region and abroad; 

- increased capacity of 30 representatives of municipal administrations and managers of public infrastructure sites and systems from Strumyani and Vasilevo in the application of new technologies for remote control of heating systems, innovative insulation technologies, new EE-heating, automatic control systems for lighting control, RES in public infrastructure and their combined application;  

- installed 424 LED street lighting fixtures for safety of night traffic and people; 

- reduced CO2 emissions by 20% (generated by electricity consumption) and a 35% reduction in energy consumption from street lighting compared to energy consumption before the introduction of LED lighting;  

- improved energy efficiency of the municipal school building (121.41 m2), reduction of CO2 emissions by 20% through the investment in the primary school "Gotse Delchev" in the village of Sedlartsi, Vasilevo municipality, as the energy consumed by the building will be lower by 20% compared to the period before the investment.