Vitebsk College of Mechanical Engineering is developing a solar collector and smart ventilation
This educational institution was among the four winners of an initiative competition held at the end of the year before last as part of the joint project of the UNDP and the Department for Energy Efficiency of the State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus.
The choice is not accidental. In addition to its experience in participating in applications and working with targeted funding according to EU-UNDP standards, the Vitebsk college is famous for its long-standing traditions in disseminating knowledge in the field of energy saving. Here, students are taught the culture of careful and rational use of natural resources. Students and teachers have repeatedly become prize-winners of the republican "Energy Marathon" competitions. It is also important that, upon leaving the educational institution, its graduates, possessing the basics of knowledge in energy saving, will apply them in their workplaces.
– Resource saving, "green economy" and preventing climate change are priority areas for the European Union. We urge people to change their daily habits, which improves the overall situation. Today we have seen a very good example of what can be done in this direction, – noted the Head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, Andrea Wiktorin, at the presentation of the pilot project "Increasing the energy efficiency of a demonstration facility of an educational institution".
The goal of the project, financed by joint efforts (European Union – 51%, or more than 400 thousand dollars, the remaining 49% of funds are allocated from the regional and republican budgets), is to increase the efficiency of fuel and energy resources use through the application of modern technologies and measures at the infrastructure facilities of educational institutions in the Vitebsk region.
Work began in November 2015. During this time, solar collectors and a ventilation system with heat recovery were installed, windows were replaced, the building's walls were thermally insulated, and much more. As the college director Tatyana Trushanyna said, the educational institution has saved about a thousand dollars a year on electricity alone.
– The solar collector on the roof of the building allows us to meet the demand for hot water all year round. And the smart ventilation system extracts air from classrooms and offices, heating the regenerator to room temperature. Then it lets fresh air from the street into the premises, giving it the accumulated heat, – notes Tatyana Trushanyna.
During an excursion around the college, she spoke about the school of rational energy consumption created here. Teachers of various disciplines conduct lessons with an emphasis on energy saving. For example, while studying computer science, students are given the task of creating a presentation on waste disposal or recycling. They also develop a computer game whose main character is Saveman – the "saver".
– Our students acquire energy-intensive professions. Turners, milling machine operators, fitters, electricians, electrical installers – all of them are related to electricity. We need to teach future specialists how to save, so that the guys realize the need to conserve resources. And if they learn to do this in the workshop, they will bring their knowledge and skills to production, – believes the director of the educational institution.
Her idea was supported by Andrea Victorin – as an educator, she is particularly fond of projects involving young people. After all, the future of the planet is in the hands of the younger generation.
– Our region actively participates in initiatives of the UNDP, European organizations and funds. In such projects, we learn about co-financing, program development, complex procurement, and public awareness campaigns. They not only help us engage in, as in this case, saving energy resources, but also bring nationalities and peoples closer together, – emphasized the Deputy Head
Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Oleg Matskevich and thanked on behalf of the authorities the EU Delegation, the UNDP in Belarus, domestic organizations and companies that took part in the implementation of such a necessary project in the Vitebsk region, focused on the rational use of natural resources and fostering a responsible and respectful attitude towards the environment.
By the way, this year a new project "Green Cities" was launched, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility. It is designed for several years, and Polotsk and Novopolotsk have been selected as pilot sites.
Tatyana Pasternak. Photo by Anton Stepanishchev. "Vitebskiye vesti".