Warm classrooms, bright futures: A kindergarten powered by clean energy

Fifteen kindergarten children play outdoors while singing a song about their animal friends, starting with the rabbits. As one of them sits in the middle, the others dance around, their laughter echoing in the spring air. Their kindergarten, housed in a two-storey building in Milot, has been reconstructed within the framework of the "Pathway towards an efficient use of local natural resources" project. Supported by the European Union, the project focused on increasing the capacities and strengthening the networking of two municipalities, Kurbin in Albania and Suhareka in Kosovo, as well as other local stakeholders on energy efficiency and climate change issues.

Milot is a cold town with frequent rainfall, which often causes buildings and schools to struggle with mould and humidity. As part of the project, energy efficiency measures implemented in the kindergarten building included façade cladding, the installation of thermal windows, and solar-powered water heating. Equipped with a modern heating and air conditioning system, the old windows were replaced with double-glazed units that reduce heat loss, while water heating is now powered by solar panels. All these interventions help keep the rooms warm in winter and cooler in summer, reducing reliance on heating, improving comfort, lowering costs, and creating a healthier environment for the children. Previously, the kindergarten was heated with a wood stove, which released smoke and carbon emissions harmful to children's health.

"The kindergarten in Milot has undergone significant improvements in its infrastructure and facilities, which have positively enhanced the quality of services provided to children. As a result of these upgrades, the kindergarten has seen an increase in the number of children enrolling and attending," says Miranda Bardhi, the school director.

The project aimed to provide education, training, and capacity building, while also investing in energy efficiency measures that serve as practical examples of learning. "Children are educated about efficiency through their kindergarten, while parents and the community observe these measures being implemented and are encouraged to make environmentally conscious investments themselves. Ultimately, the municipality benefits as well, with a renovated facility that supports sustainability and improved services," says Erjon Tase, Executive Director at the Academy of Political Studies, the Albanian partner of the initiative.

The project required mobilising all actors working at the local level to accurately identify needs and gain a snapshot of the situation, while also conducting a thorough on-the-ground analysis. "The identification of energy consumption profiles and the awareness of the population in the targeted areas, as well as businesses and local authority employees on energy efficiency and climate issues, provided an excellent tool to engage local stakeholders and clearly identify the measures to be undertaken," he notes.

Protecting the environment, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, and supporting risk prevention and management were among the project's key aims. Environmental resources in the programme area were also further protected, preserved, and valorised.

"As part of the project, employees of the Kurbin municipality received training, and the first local energy efficiency plan was drafted. This plan outlines the measures the municipality needs to take over the next three to four years to achieve several objectives. It considers all public buildings, kindergartens, schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, and even the fire department, in order to assess energy consumption and identify opportunities to transition towards clean energy," explains Tase. He adds that municipal staff were also familiarised with the latest national and EU policies on energy efficiency and the sustainable use of energy.

In addition, the project focused on raising awareness among citizens. A fair was organised in Kurbin, showcasing appliances, equipment, and materials with high energy performance, as well as local products and companies offering clean energy solutions such as double-glazed windows, thermal insulation materials, solar panels, and LED lamps. Through this initiative, the objective of encouraging businesses to recognise the importance of renewable energy was largely achieved.

By reducing gas emissions, improving public health, lowering long-term energy costs, and supporting sustainable economic growth, clean energy is central to combating climate change while ensuring reliable and affordable energy for communities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The project "Pathway towards an Efficient Use of Local Natural Resources" was financed by the Cross-Border Programme Albania-Kosovo under the European Union's IPA II Instrument for Pre-Accession. Its objective was to strengthen the capacities of local administrations and communities, in planning and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for the sustainable use of resources. The project developed comprehensive local action plans to reduce fossil fuel consumption and pollution through energy efficiency initiatives. It also piloted investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy to encourage similar actions by local businesses and citizens. Additionally, awareness-raising activities and knowledge exchanges among local actors were carried out to foster collaboration and promote sustainable practices.