Financing: Ukrainian Energy Company DTEK
Role of All-Ukrainian Charitable Organization "Municipal Development Institute": sole implementer
Project implementation period: 2012-2015

The goal of the Energy Efficient Schools Project was to develop conscientious and responsible future consumer of energy resources who is aware of technical and financial problems of energy suppliers and who consumes resources rationally and pays one's utility bills on time.

The task of the Project is to develop energy and environmentally educated school students, make them understand the importance of efficient and careful consumption of energy and other resources, and get school students involved in activities aiming at reduction of consumption of energy resources and minimization of the negative effect on environment.

From the methodological perspective, the Project was built as a "program of actions": school students learned about problems in the area of energy supply and energy conservation and progressively they inclined to act properly to solve the problems. School students conducted energy audits of school premises and developed project proposals for improving energy efficiency of school buildings. As part of the optional training course on "Basics of energy supply and energy saving", school students developed and carried out information campaigns for increasing awareness of teachers, parents, neighbors of energy saving and rational consumption of energy resources.

Starting from 2012, MDI, with financing from DTEK, implemented three phases (waves) of the Energy Efficient Schools Project in 116 schools of 24 locations in Ukraine.

Phase 1: academic year 2012-2013. 11 Kyiv schools

Five schools – winners of the school contest on best energy efficient project proposal and leaders in information dissemination activity – were awarded UAH 180 000 each for the implementation of the proposed energy efficiency projects; two schools received UAH 20 000 each; other schools received UAH 15 000 each for the implementation of one of the proposed energy efficiency projects.

Phase 2: academic year 2013-2014. 55 schools (33 schools from 18 cities in which DTEK operates; 11 Kyiv schools; 11 Dnipropetrovsk schools)

Phase 2 participants developed 54 project proposals. Ten schools from Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk were awarded UAH 130 000 each for the implementation of the proposed energy efficiency projects. Ten winners in other cities received UAH 40 000 each. Other schools received incentive bonuses (UAH 20 000 – 30 000) for the implementation of energy efficiency improvements. Professional energy auditors conducted energy examinations of buildings of participating schools, based on which the schools prepared energy efficient projects and could seek financing from donors for energy efficiency improvements.

Phase 3: academic year 2014-2015. 50 Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk schools and schools from 11 cities of locations of Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, where DTEK is operating.

Results and Achievements

1. During 2012-2015, the optional training course "Fundamentals of Heat Supply and Heat Energy Conservation" designed for 6-8th grade students was implemented in 116 schools of 24 Ukraine's cities and settlements.
2. School teachers and management received methodological and consultancy assistance regarding course implementation and events/actions such as energy audit; tours of energy companies; school contests for energy saving; information campaigns; contests for best drawings/videos promoting energy saving; contest for best energy efficient project proposal.
3. Two manuals and three procedures were developed. The Manuals were: a Students' Manual "About energy supply and energy saving for a future consumer" and Teacher's Manual "Collection of additional materials which can be used at lessons and for other activities under training and education in energy saving". The procedures were: "On project launch", "On lessons and other activities conducted during trainings and education in energy saving"; "On the school contest for energy saving"; "On the school contest for best energy efficient project proposal and/or low cost energy efficiency improvements of school premises".
4. In June 2016, training and methodological materials of the optional course "Fundamentals of energy supply and energy saving", consisting of course curriculum and a Manual, was approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and recommended for the higher school.
5. In November 2015, Energy Efficient Schools Project, implemented by MDI during three years with financing from the energy company DTEK, won the national contest "Best Social Project in Ukraine".
6. With assistance from MDI, schools during two months conducted contests for energy saving and together managed to save 179 141 KW•hour of electric energy for total of UAH 291 104 (electricity tariff at the time 1.625 UAH/KW•hour) and average reduced electricity consumption for all participating schools was 12.3%. In addition to low-cost technical measures, schools conducted information campaigns promoting energy efficiency and energy saving.

Under Phase 1, 11 schools saved 19 701 KW•hour of electric energy that was equivalent of UAH 23 462 (electricity tariff of 2013). Under Phase 2, 55 schools saved 108 181 KW•hour of electric energy, or UAH 134 025 (electricity tariff effective as of 1 July 2014). Under Phase 3, 144 schools, including Kyiv schools which joined the Project only for the contest for energy saving, participated in the contest. 50 schools saved 72 305 KW•hour of electric energy for the amount of UAH 117 495. 94 Kyiv schools reduced electricity consumption by 11.8% and saved 106 836 KW•hour for the amount of UAH 173 609.

Project monitoring and assessment conducted by MDI showed that school students appreciated taking part in the Project: 90% in Phase 1; almost 94% in Phase 2, and almost 95% in Phase 3.

More than 93% of parents (Phase 1) admitted that the Project was useful for their children: 97% of parents under Phase 2 and 97.5% of parents under Phase 3.

As a result of the Project, 95% of school students (under Phase 1), 98% (under Phase 2) and 99.7% (under Phase 3) changed their energy consumption behavior to energy efficient.

Over 95% of teachers are supporters of Project ideas and believe such ideas should be multiplicated by other schools. 97% of parents share such opinion.