Environmental impacts targeted: The project aims to transform 25 school buildings across Cyprus into Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings.
Relevant EU legislation/policy/guidance: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275)
In 2020, the Cyprus Energy Agency, in collaboration with the Education Unit for the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, initiated the ''Promoting Energy Efficiency & Developing Innovative Approaches in Schools'' (PEDIA) project with an aim to transform at least 25 public school buildings across Cyprus into Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and contribute to the fulfilment of the European and National goals of Cyprus for energy and climate. NZEBs are buildings with high-energy performance and low-energy needs, covered largely by onsite and nearby renewable energy sources.
The PEDIA project is the only project in Cyprus that was selected for a grant for technical assistance under the Project Development Assistance (PDA) funding from the EU Horizon 2020 funds. The work''s implementation and construction are co-financed through the Cohesion Policy Programme, "THALIA 2021-2027". PEDIA introduces a procedural framework for the energy upgrade in schools to meet NZEB levels by integrating a selection ranking system into existing renovation practices, energy audits, green public procurement, and an Innovative Financing Solution.
PEDIA''s procurement process bundles 25 selected schools from across the country into groups of one, two or three buildings, considering the total estimated budget of each procurement as well as the geographic location of the buildings. Notably, these upgrades are delivering the very first NZEB schools in the country.
The first two procurements within the PEDIA project framework were launched in 2022 (Procurement A) and 2023 (ProcurementB) respectively.
The explicit objective of the PEDIA procurements is to transform the selected school buildings into NZEBs. The subjects of the procurements were for (Procurement A) the energy upgrade of three existing schools and (Procurement B) the energy upgrade of two existing schools.
The energy upgrade of these schools included the following tasks:
The estimated values of the procurements were €724,500.00 (Procurement A) and €655,500.00 (Procurement B) respectively.
The table below highlights the most notable sustainable criteria used in the tendering process. These criteria were based on the EU/31/2010 - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (revised in 2018) which stipulates that all new buildings from 2020 onward must be NZEB and Member States must implement policies that support and stimulate the refurbishment of existing building stocks toward NZEB levels. Other standards and regulations that must be adhered to include:
In cases where the existing frames are aluminium or metal, they are to be replaced with new energy-efficient aluminium frames.
The ventilation equipment should carry the adapted Energy Label based on Energy Labelling Regulation EU 1369/2017 which will provide standardised information for energy efficiency, energy consumption and, where applicable, additional information about the products. Ventilators in specific rooms should be replaced with new, suitable and energy-efficient ones that meet the new needs of the space. The contractor should provide a short report of the results of the methodology (calculations, standards, etc.) followed for the selection of the equipment he offers.
A green roof or planted roof is defined as the surface of the roof of buildings, covered by vegetation, or any garden between which there is a covering structure. To be able to plant on a roof it is necessary to add a waterproofing layer, coating with anti-root protection film, protection and moisture retention substrate, growth substrate retention sheet and plant growth substrate.
The Contractor should install an expansive green roof on the 1st floor of the Second Primary School of Idali. An expansive green roof indicates that the entire roof surface is used exclusively for vegetation.
The Contractor should prepare an installation procedure, taking into account the existing roof''s parameters. In addition to the provisions of the Contract Terms, the Contractor must also ensure certifications of the system and its materials (CE marking and Declaration of Performance of the producer for the systems and all individual materials).
As with most energy upgrade works, no further award criteria or contract performance clauses were included in the tender.
Procurement A received two bids and Procurement B received three bids. With regard to the latter, one bidder was excluded for not meeting criteria related to the necessary experience required. Procurement A was awarded to N. Gavriel & Sons LTD while Procurement B was awarded to Housemasters LTD.
According to the project''s plan, one of the specific objectives (though not stipulated as a formal requirement in the tender) of the initiative will include the certification of five schools with ISO 50001 (Energy Management) and the utilisation of their results to define the long-term strategy on school buildings for the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
As the PEDIA project develops the first-ever NZEB schools in the country, these tenders already mark a novel step towards increased energy efficiency and environmental sustainability for Cyprus.
Quantitative data on the selected schools from both Procurement A and Procurement B have been calculated through the EPC issuance, which can be found in the table below. The Cyprus Energy Agency plans to install sensors to measure temperature and humidity whose results can be compared to the measurements taken before the energy upgrades.
Furthermore, feedback from the principal of the 2nd Primary School of Idalion noted that prior to the energy upgrade, the academic building during the winter months required 5 hours of running heat. Following the upgrade, this was reduced to 2 hours maximum. The director also mentioned that in April / May, the buildings were able to maintain a temperature of 5 - 6 degrees lower than before the upgrade.
This project embraces a Nature-Based Solution approach by planting trees to provide natural shading, particularly during the summer months, of the buildings'' envelopes and windows as well as the schoolyards.
The selection criteria for the first 25 pilot school buildings focused on both potential energy savings as well as the social impact the energy renovation would provide to the area. Schools of varying educational levels and sizes from across Cyprus were selected, including those in mountainous and remote areas as well as "neglected" schools in the city centres and schools with refugees and non-native students who may not have adequate financial support.
The methodology for ranking the schools followed a holistic approach by dividing the evaluation into 13 assessment areas with weighted allocated points, depending on the element''s importance to the implementation of the project. The final result calculated the total points, with the greater number collected indicating the higher priority for energy upgrade of a school building. The maximum number of available points for a school to obtain is 650. A summary of the assessment areas can be found below:
Construction (20%), Social Aspects (11.5%), Energy (11%), School Use & Educational Aspects (10%), Electromechanical Systems (10%), Users (7.5%), Comfort (5.5%), Renewable Energy Sources (4.5%), Support (3%), Location (2.5%) Sustainable Planning (1.5%), Cultural Value (1.5%), and Added Value (11.5%).
PEDIA project website, Cyprus Energy Agency: https://
Video: PEDIA Project (With English Subs)
For related information, please see EU GPP criteria for Office Building Design, Construction and Maintenance and the accompanying Technical Background Report.
Tender documents are available online: Procurement A and Procurement B.
Participating countries and their pages.
The Youth Wiki project in the European context.
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