Poland invests in school comfort and energy efficiency

Across Poland, local governments are investing between 500 million and 1 billion złoty to modernize schools, focusing on both building upgrades and student wellbeing.

Warsaw allocated the largest sum with nearly 200 million złoty for construction projects, while Wrocław spent 162 million złoty. Kraków, Poznań, Łódź, Toruń, and Lublin also committed significant funds to renovations across hundreds of schools and preschools. Originally, school renovations involved painting and minor repairs. More recently, schools have expanded and rebuilt facilities.

Now, the emphasis is on modernization and energy efficiency, with funding coming from European funds and Poland’s Recovery Plan. The first phase of a program to replace heating sources and improve energy efficiency received 1.78 billion złoty and upgraded 500 schools, with another 2 billion złoty allocated to continue the work.

These projects aim to improve energy performance by installing features like photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, and better windows, with a goal of reducing primary energy consumption by 30 percent and final energy consumption by 25 percent. However, officials and educators recognize that low energy bills and green technology aren’t enough.

A recent study revealed that noise levels, particularly in hallways, gyms, and cafeterias, are a major source of discomfort for teachers and students, with 84.3 percent of teachers identifying students as the primary cause. Other issues include overheating in warmer months and inadequate lighting.