Case studies, District heating, Municipal buildings and facilities, Others, RES, Residential buildings, Street lighting, Transport
Kovel school becomes first completed project under Ukraine’s public buildings energy efficiency programme
A school in Kovel, western Ukraine, has become the first completed project under the Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency (UPBEE) programme, implemented by the European Investment Bank (EIB). Lyceum No. 12 received new insulation, windows, doors, a heating system, and a solar power station. Energy consumption is expected to fall by nearly half. More than 1,200 students and teachers now study in heated, modernised classrooms.
The results were presented at a coordination platform organised by the Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM East) initiative on municipal infrastructure. EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová, First Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Alona Shkrum, UNDP Resident Representative Auke Lootsma, and representatives of international organisations and the Volyn Regional Military Administration attended the event in Kovel.
“Today, the lyceum in Kovel shows how investments in energy efficiency can create real change for communities and improve people’s daily lives,” said Karl Nehammer.
Kovel Mayor Ihor Chaika said the project went beyond keeping rooms warm. “It is about quality of life, energy efficiency, and confidence in the community’s future,” he said.
Students from the lyceum handed their drawings to the international guests during the event. The works had been submitted to an art competition held as part of Sustainable Energy Days in Kovel, supported by CoM East. Prize-winners received awards at the ceremony.
Kovel has been a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors – East since 2009. In 2024, the municipality adopted its Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) to 2030, covering energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate adaptation. The lyceum project is part of a broader effort: the city is implementing six further UPBEE projects across schools, medical facilities, and administrative buildings, with total investment exceeding €4.6 million.