Good practice:

Increasing energy efficiency of public buildings in Baia Mare

The building sector in Romania was characterized, in the past years, by unsustainable energy consumption, as well as by a high energy saving potential. According to its Sustainable Energy Action Plan, Baia Mare Municipality is committed to improve the environmental impact, by reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.
”Increasing the energy performance of the Baia Mare Pneumology Hospital” is one of the most relevant projects of the municipality, related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. The costs related to the consumption of electricity and gas were reduced and a pleasant climate for organize the medical act was created.
The works carried out were walls thermal insulation, new windows with thermal insulation, replacement of heating & hot water distribution system, rehabilitation of the lighting installation. As per renewable energy production system, the hospital was equipped with the own thermal power plant with micro-cogeneration and with alternative energy production systems consisting in a ground-to-water heat pump system for the preparation of both the thermal agent for space heating and for hot water consumption.
During the works, the uninterrupted functioning of the activity was ensured, in the benefit of patients. That was possible due to the effective cooperation among the project staff and stakeholders: the hospital leadership and staff, representatives of construction contractors, site manager, designers and utility suppliers.

The total budget of the project is over 3.6 million €, of which over 2.8 mil € EU funds. Baia Mare municipality supported the co-financing and ineligible costs. The Municipality has 57 personnel working in project & technical management, out of which 10 persons have implemented this project.

Rehabilitation of Baia Mare municipal hospital has significant benefits:
- 16.6% of annual energy consumption is from renewable sources;
- Final annual energy consumption for heating, hot water and lightning decreased with 58.02%
- Annual costs with energy for heating decreased with 75.87%
The thermal comfort increased, with positive influences on medical act. Furthermore, the urban aesthetic improved, given that the hospital is a large building, located in an area of high urban visibility.

The main challenges are related to changes occurred in the construction sector, such as the modification of the minimum wage limit and the lack of bidders and labour force, that cause the increase of ineligible expenditures and delays in the project implementation.

The potential for scalability and transfer of this good practice focused on energy efficiency project developed by Baia Mare municipality is significant, accessing the EU funds. New projects financed by EU funds could be developed in the field of increasing energy efficiency of public lighting and of public buildings, but also of residential buildings, actively involving their inhabitants. During 2014-2020, Baia Mare Municipality developed 23 projects financed by EU, that increased the energy efficiency of 17 public buildings (13 schools, 3 social blocks and 1 hospital), with 21 mil. €. In addition, 27 residential buildings were rehabilitated with 11 mil €. The inhabitants benefit on these local actions, enjoying the improved environmental conditions and renewed urban aspect.
Many cities and region developed such energy efficiency projects, but that integrated approach of energy efficiency projects implemented in Baia Mare could be scaled and transferred in other regions at EU level.