Extensive energy savings renovations have been made to the six main buildings in the hospital complex, thanks to investment from the EU’s Cohesion Fund.
- 09 May 2014
The general hospital in Brežice, a city in eastern Slovenia, is one of the oldest in the country dating back to 1872. With 300 employees and more than 150 beds it provides a full range of medical services for a regional community of more than 70 000 people and, as part of its government’s anti-crisis programme, has undergone a far-reaching cost-cutting programme focused on energy efficiency.
Energy improvements
As part of the EUR 2 million programme of improvements, ceilings, facades, walls and floors have been thermally insulated and roofs upgraded. All the doors and windows have been replaced and energy-saving light bulbs have been fitted everywhere.
A new air-conditioning system to provide cooling and ventilation in the operating theatres has been installed and hot water is now provided through solar heating.
Part of the hospital’s energy supply has been switched to renewable energy sources, notably solar energy alongside heat pumps which have been installed to extract energy from groundwater.
Cost savings
The programme of energy upgrades together with earlier work such as the replacement of the boiler (2006) and the renovation of the kitchen (2008) has had a notable impact. The renovations have resulted in a 41 % reduction in total consumption of energy compared to 2005. Total energy costs have decreased by 14 % and now represent just 1.44 % of the hospital’s total operating cost.
In addition, the hospital has reduced CO2 emissions by 27 % and water consumption has fallen by 11 %.
Alongside lower energy consumption the hospital now also has a more reliable energy supply to ensure uninterrupted operation and has minimised the negative impacts on the environment.
A central energy control system has been introduced to enable the hospital to have a continuous overview of energy use and performance.
“The investment in energy savings measures and renewable energy sources has transformed our hospital complex into a fully “green” institution and reduced operating costs considerably.”
Drazen Levojevic, Brežice General Hospital.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Sustainable use of energy, energy rehabilitation of buildings A, B, C, D, E, F and G General Hospital Brežice” amounted to EUR 2 041 223, of which the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributed EUR 1 183 348 from the Operational Programme “Development of environment and transport infrastructure” for the 2007-2013 programming period.