Rebuilding Ukraine: Kyiv region to construct zero-energy school based on Finnish model

A village in Mykulichy, Bucha district, Kyiv region, will soon have a new energy-efficient school with nearly zero energy usage (NZEB), replacing two buildings destroyed by Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Northern Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO), which supports environmental projects, reports this.

What is the problem?

In February and March of 2022, Russian missile strikes caused damage to both schools located in the village of Mykulychi, part of the Nemishaieve community within the Bucha district in the western region of Kyiv.

As a result, children from Mykulychi were transferred to educational institutions in neighboring villages and towns.

What is the solution?

Therefore, Finland and NEFKO are starting the construction of a building with almost zero energy consumption to replace the war-damaged school.

The project is financed by Finland through the Green Recovery Program of Ukraine and implemented by the Northern Green Bank of NEFKO. This is Finland's first investment in Ukraine through NEFKO since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion and NEFKO's first involvement in a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) project in Ukraine.

"Finland supports the restoration and reconstruction of school buildings in Ukraine destroyed by the Russian war. We finance projects to revive the country's education sector and promote a wider supply of school meals. Working together with NEFKO on concrete actions, we help rebuild municipal infrastructure," Ville Tavio, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, said.

How does it work?

The new NZEB school will replace local educational institutions and provide an energy-efficient learning environment for students, including internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities.

"Construction of this near-zero energy building in Mykulychi gives Ukraine a significant opportunity to make a technological leap and adopt best practices while contributing to developing a sustainable and carbon-neutral economy. The project will meet EU and NEFCO standards, with potential for scaling in other Ukrainian cities," Trond Moe, Managing Director of NEFCO, noted.

As mentioned, the upcoming school facility will feature a modular prefabricated wooden frame and can accommodate around 200 students in grades 1-9. Utilizing wood as a building material boasts both eco-friendliness and sustainability.

The VTT Technical Research Center of Finland commissioned a report that led to developing technical measures for energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy systems, including solar panels. This was done through the Finnish-Ukrainian Trust Fund.

The project aims to obtain more than 38% of the required energy from renewable sources.

Utilizing prefabricated construction methods will reduce the need for on-site building tasks and lead to superior quality, as the manufacturing will take place in a regulated factory setting. Additionally, the structure will feature solar photovoltaic panels for added and alternate sources of electricity.

For reference:

It should be noted that the restored "Lithuanian-Ukrainian Lyceum No. 1" is being prepared for opening in Borodianka, Kyiv region.