& Slideshows
Two-thirds of the Chernobyl power plant's contamination fell out in Belarus. Social and economic development plays an important role in mitigating the effects depressing the quality of life in the affected regions.
Better lighting and heating, new doors and windows, improve conditions in over 200 schools and hospitals. Indoor temperatures in one college increased from 14 degrees to 20 in winter.
Schools had outdated lighting.
There is no longer any need to worry about children’s eyes being damaged during lessons after the old lighting fixtures and installations were replaced.
An energy efficiency museum has been created in Gomel. It helps to instill an awareness of the importance of energy saving from a very early age.
Chausy’s boiler house required urgent retrofitting.
A new one was commissioned in 2008.
Belarus has made significant efforts to reduce energy intensity and improve efficiency in the energy sector but there is still much to be done.
In Minsk Gymnasium No. 8, built in 1952 and renovated in 2006, a new heat exchanger, new lighting, and new multiple gas panes help 830 pupils to stay focused and healthy.
In the 1990s, energy efficiency improvement was identified by the Government of Belarus as one of the key priorities for the country's economy. In Nesvizh School No. 4, students perform a sketch about improved energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
From 2001 to 2010, 42 boiler houses and 541 heat substations were renovated with help from the World Bank Social Infrastructure Retrofitting Project.
This new boiler house in Uzda regional hospital is now keeping both doctors and patients warm even on the coldest days. Almost 745 social sector buildings have new or renovated energy efficient equipment. During the winter heating season, the indoor temperature of the building has increased from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius.
A new wood-fired boiler in the Borovlyany-Lesnoy hospital complex. Emissions standards for boilers that burn wood were developed through the project.
A new boiler house at Krasnaya sloboda school is now serving 560 children and their teachers. In Belarus, significant reduction in energy consumption in improved facilities like this one, has contributed to total annual savings of fuel and energy resources of 243,300 megawatt hours per year.
The kitchen of a new cafeteria at Krasnaya sloboda school is now able to prepare meals for the school's total of 560 pupils daily. Energy efficiency measures, implemented under the World Bank SIRP project to reduce operating and maintenance costs at schools, are paying off.
