Menu
A+ A A-

CyI Participates in Project Aimed at Developing Zero Energy Hospitals in the Balkan Region

zen1

The Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) of The Cyprus Institute announces the Kick-off of an exciting new project aiming at the development of Zero Energy Hospitals for the Balkan region. “ZenH Balkan” is a European funded two-year project, under the “INTERREG Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020” Programme.

The project aims to facilitate the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) by defining the characteristics and Standards for Zero Energy Hospitals in the South Balkan region thereby contributing towards improved energy efficiency in the building sector. Hospital buildings are considered complex systems as they are hosting several energy intensive functions (HVAC under strict comfort conditions, high hot water demand, kitchen facilities, etc.). There is considerable work in EU on the definition of near Zero Energy residential buildings, offices and hotels, but not for hospital buildings.

The project is coordinated by the Democritus University of Thrace and brings together partner organizations from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Cyprus Institute’s research team is led by Prof. Despina Serghides and it is supported by researcher architect Stella Dimitriou.

The expected outputs of the project can be summarized as follows:

  1. Production of benchmarks and design guidelines for Zero Energy Hospitals
  2. Improvement of the technical capacity of various stakeholders towards the Zero energy buildings notion
  3. Preparation of detailed analysis and testing of benchmark models for upgrading hospital buildings into near-zero Energy Buildings (NZEB).

In Cyprus, studies will be carried out in five hospitals, detailed analysis and testing for upgrading three hospital buildings, and theoretical testing of the benchmarks for upgrading to Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) for one hospital.

The project is of two-year duration, and will be completed in November 2019.

The Project is co-funded by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries