Energy Upgrade of the School Complex of Perigiali Municipality of Kavala

About this project

<p>The Municipality of Kavala, under the GR-Energy Program, implemented an energy upgrade project for the largest school complex in the Kavala Region, located in the Perigiali district, east of the city. The complex houses the school units: 1^st Technical High School,&nbsp;2^nd Evening Technical High School,&nbsp;Evening General High School, and the Laboratory Center.&nbsp;Covering a total area of <strong>10,640 m²,&nbsp;</strong> the Perigiali school complex accommodates more than 1,600 students.</p> <p>According to the Energy Performance Certificate prior to the interventions, the building complex was classified in energy category E. An energy study was conducted with the goal of upgrading the complex to energy category B+, which included the enhancement of the building envelope’s thermal performance through the replacement of selected window frames, installation of external thermal insulation, and the addition of external shading devices. Further improvements included the installation of a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, as well as the integration of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic panels, geothermal heat pumps, and air-cooled heat pumps—replacing the previous oil-based heating system.</p> <p>A key innovation of the project was the upgrade of the heating and cooling system through the installation of a <strong>geothermal heat pump</strong> with a horizontal heat exchanger, fully eliminating the use of heating oil. In addition, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof to generate electricity. It is important to note that heating and cooling systems account for approximately 80% of a building’s energy consumption. The combination of geothermal and photovoltaic technologies transforms the building into a <strong>Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB)</strong>, significantly reducing operational costs and dependence on fossil fuels, while improving comfort and service quality.</p> <p>The upgraded Perigiali school complex now serves as a <strong>demonstrative model</strong> for sustainable infrastructure within the Municipality of Kavala</p>