The Primary School 27 from Bielsko-Biala in Poland was built in 1976. The school impressively improved its energetic performance by installing a central heating system and making further improvements when it separated the caretaker’s apartment from the system.

Before the improvements were made, the school was not insulated and was connected to district heating. In 2000-2001 new PVC-framed windows were installed and a new heat exchanger with automatic regulation was connected to the heating system. However, within the school there was a habitable apartment and this too was connected to the heating system. Consequently the entire school was heated long after the children and staff had left, in order to keep the occupants of the apartment warm.
This Shining Example demonstrates that simply by separating the on-site apartment’s heating system from that of the school, significant improvements in energy and emissions performance can be achieved (from E rating to D rating for energy consumption).

Energy label 2003

Energy label 2005

This was a low cost improvement with a very short payback, and is replicable in many schools, as the incorporation of caretaker apartments within schools is quite common (especially in Eastern European countries). For more information go to the shining examples section of the website (www.display-campaign.org).