Environmental research

The kindergarten Pavlina Veljanova in Kochani consists of four clones distributed at different locations in the town for faster accessibility of the population living in the corresponding area. All four clones work with full capacity during the whole year, except during the summer months when the number of the children slightly decreases. The total number of children covered by the kindergarten in Kochani is around 650 (example-636 children attended kindergarten in May, 2013). Most prominent problem that reflects on the economic performance of all kindergartens is the big consumption of electricity primarily for lighting and heating hot water. This problem is emphasized the most in kindergarten s clone 1, which is considered as central not only because the administration offices and staff are there, but also because there is the main kitchen, where food is prepared for children in all four clones, and the public kitchen located at clone 4. That is why clone 1 has the biggest need of electricity and hot water. This facility covers an area of 832 m (has 5 classrooms, one babyroom, 2 bathrooms for children) and the average number of children who attend the kindergarten in clone 1 is about 140 during the year. Electricity is required for lighting, cooling during summer and heating of hot water (as required for washing and showering the children and for preparing food in the kitchen and washing dishes). We should also emphasize that because of the location of the facility, lighting is needed during the all working hours of the day (from 5 am to 6 pm). The consumption of electricity in clone 1 is about 36,000 kWh per year (data for 2012 = 36342 kWh) and it is significantly higher than in other clones (annual electricity consumption differs from other clones for around 7000 kWh). Some of this energy can be produced from a renewable source of energy, ie solar energy. If we install hybrid solar system (which produces both electricity and hot water) that would save finances that kindergarten could invest in energy efficiency measures both in this and in the other clones, which will provide sustainability of the project idea.

Macedonia