Yesterday, in presence of about two hundred participants, the energy reconstructed primary school “Sibinjskih žrtava” was ceremonially opened. In previous period, the construction-finishing works were done at the school building aimed at implementation of energy efficiency measures. The reconstruction works comprised new insulation of outside building walls including installation of stone wool and new facade, new joinery, new thermal valves as well as the whole roof structure and the roof. Total value of Sibinje school reconstruction was 575 thousand Euro. The reconstructed school was officially opened by Damir Mirković, vice governor of Brod-Posavina Country together with the Minister of Economy of Tuzla Canton Government Mr Osman Puškar. Mr. Mirković highlighted commitment of the County to energy reconstruction not only of educational institutions but other public buildings as well, and Mr Puškar emphasised, beside the value of the investments, the value of the knowledge that remains, as well as the outstanding crossborder cooperation, new contacts and future cooperation that has been established within this project. In addition to other representatives of Tuzla Canton and Brod-Posavina County, as well as the representatives of the project partners, the ceremony was attended by the teachers, parents and students, municipal mayor Josip Pavić and numerous persons from local community.

The director Josip Šišmanović said that the school is not only beautiful now, but is more energy efficient and the savings that are already seen in the invoices, shall be directed to other things they need. He thanked to the Brod-Posavina County for understanding and investing additional funds that were missing during implementation of the project. Bernard Ivčić from the Green Action addressed the media in behalf of the project, which shall end in August 2019, expressing satisfaction not only with investment, but with all other activities as well, through which the employees of the public buildings were educated, which changed their habits, saved the energy, and motivated young people to think and make innovative technical solutions in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

The school organised a ceremony in which numerous culture groups participated, and after the ceremony and school opening the round table was held. The topic of energy efficiency in public sector at this round table gathered the guests and project partners, as well as representatives of school, private sector and County Development Agency CTR.

Energy reconstruction of school was done within the implementation of 1,6 million Euro worth crossborder project titled „Innovative minds for smart schools“ or abbreviated SMART SCHOOLS. The project “Smart schools” made investments into energy reconstruction of 7 primary and high schools in the project area (Brod-Posavina County and Tuzla Canton). The project is funded within INTERREG IPA CBC crossborder cooperation programme Croatia – BIH – Monte Negro 2014-2020 and is implemented by the leading partner Centre for Development and Support (CRP) from Tuzla with the project partners: Tuzla Canton; Brod –Posavina County; Green Action and Brod Ecological Association -BED.

For more information about the „Smart school“ in Sibinje, see the leaflet HERE.

See more photos of the ceremony HERE.