Romania Eficienta Completes a New Energy Renovation Project

• The workshop building of the Technological High School in Vernesti, Buzau County, has been renovated to nZEB standard
• EUR 1.3 million total investment, supported by OMV Petrom
• The unit in Vernesti is part of the 5th phase of the Romania Eficienta program, supported by OMV Petrom with 7.6 million euro

OMV Petrom and Energy Policy Group (EPG) announce the completion of the modernization and energy renovation works carried by the Romania Eficienta program at the Technological High School in Vernești, Buzău County. The school’s workshop building has been upgraded to nZEB standards (nearly Zero Energy Building), through an investment of approximately EUR 1.3 million.

The project is part of the fifth stage of the Romania Eficienta program, which aims to modernize and rehabilitate at nZEB standards 4 educational institutions, with financial support of over 7.6 million euro from OMV Petrom.

“It’s exciting to see the 4th school renovated under the Romania Eficienta program. The nZEB renovation of these schools proves that we can have efficient and sustainable energy consumption. And that all of us can contribute to a low-carbon future,” Christina Verchere, OMV Petrom CEO, stated.

“We are very pleased to continue the nZEB renovation of educational buildings in Romania. The completion of the works at the Technological High School in Vernesti, Buzau County, reaffirms EPG’s commitment to contribute to the improvement of students’ learning conditions and to the modernization of the educational system’s infrastructure, which require significant investments,” added Radu Dudau, EPG President and coordinator of the Romania Eficienta program.

The Vernesti Technological High School building that benefited from deep renovation works through the Romania Eficienta program was built in the 2000s and has an area of ~300 square meters. It houses the workshops and laboratories used by 140 students, guided by 20 teachers.

The modernization project was aimed at solving multiple problems related to the inadequate waterproofing, which allowed infiltrations, the inefficient thermal insulation and a deficient heating installation, generating thermal discomfort and increased humidity, as well as the carpentry leaks that favoured condensation and mold growth. The undersized lighting system and the adaptations needed for the building’s compliance with the accessibility requirements for people with disabilities were included as well.

Following the project’s completion, the students and teachers will benefit from a healthy and comfortable indoor environment that encourages academic performance.

The total annual energy consumption of the building will be reduced by over 60%, while part of the electric energy required will be self-generated from renewable sources.

The main energy rehabilitation and modernization works run through the Romania Eficienta program consisted of:

• Thermal insulation of exterior walls and ceiling of the building
• Replacement of roof covering and rainwater drainage system
• Installation of energy-efficient aluminium carpentry equipped with triple-layer thermal insulation glass, with a differentiated solar factor depending on the orientation and level of exposure of the windows to the sun
• Renewal of space and water heating systems
• Replacement of heating and sanitary installations
• Installation of a modern ventilation system with heat recovery
• Replacement of the existing lighting system with an energy efficient one, with LED fixtures
• Installation of solar panel system that ensures the production of “green” electricity.

The Technological High School in Vernesti, Buzau is the fourth public school in Romania to benefit from extensive energy efficiency works in order to reach the nZEB standard, through the Romania Eficienta program, following the “Elie Radu” Energy Technology High School in Ploiesti, the “Liliesti” Secondary School in Baicoi, Prahova County, and the “Zig-Zag” Kindergarten in Ovidiu, Constanta County.

 

About Romania Eficienta

Romania Eficienta is a nation-wide private project carried out by Energy Policy Group (EPG) in partnership and with funding from OMV Petrom. The project started in the summer of 2019 and consists of carrying out a national program for the promotion of energy efficiency. Romania Eficienta aims to support achieving Romania’s targets for 2030 in terms of reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency, both through information and education campaigns, and by carrying out concrete major renovation projects in public schools in different regions of the country. More details can be found on the website romania-eficienta.ro.

 

About Energy Policy Group

Energy Policy Group (EPG) is an independent, non-profit think-tank specializing in energy and climate policy, market analysis and energy strategy, founded in 2014. EPG contributes to a technologically advanced, sustainable and socially acceptable energy system. EPG also promotes long-term decarbonization policies and measures in all economic sectors: energy, buildings, transport, industry, agriculture.

 

About OMV Petrom

OMV Petrom is the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, with an annual Group hydrocarbon production of approximately 41 million boe in 2023. The Group has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and operates an 860 MW high-efficiency gas-fired power plant. The Group is present on the oil products retail market in Romania and neighbouring countries through approximately 780 filling stations under two brands – OMV and Petrom.

OMV Petrom is a company in which, as of end-2023, Romanian shareholders hold over 43% of the shares (of which the Romanian state, through the Ministry of Energy, holds 20.7%, and 22.5% are owned by pension funds in Romania, to which are added almost 500,000 individual investors and other Romanian entities). OMV Aktiengesellschaft, one of the largest listed industrial companies in Austria, holds a 51.2% stake in OMV Petrom, and the remaining 5.6% are held by other foreign investors. Of the total shares of OMV Petrom, 28.1% represents the free float on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

OMV Petrom is one of the largest contributors to the state budget, with approximately EUR 42 billion in taxes and dividends paid between 2005 and 2023. During the same period, the company invested approximately EUR 18 billion.

Since 2007, OMV Petrom has included corporate responsibility principles into its business strategy. Between 2007 and 2023, the company has allocated around EUR 160 million to develop communities in Romania, focusing on environmental protection, education, health, and local development.

On 29 July 2020, OMV Petrom announced its support for the recommendations issued by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) regarding risks and opportunities on climate change. OMV Petrom annually reports on the progress made in implementing these recommendations.