Cooperation with the Western Balkans Better energy efficiency and greater comfort

    Energy consumption in the Western Balkans is particularly high compared with the EU average. This is problematic for various reasons. Many of the countries in the region are reliant on energy imports, including in large part from Russia. One way of reducing consumption is to use energy more efficiently. The buildings sector offers huge potential in this regard.

    The VMA Hospital in Belgrade is in need of renovation.

    The VMA Hospital in Belgrade, one of the largest hospitals in Europe, is a case in point. Spread over 15 floors, it covers an area equivalent to 25 football pitches. Opened in 1982, the hospital falls significantly short of today’s building and energy standards. The VMA consumes about twice as much electricity, two and a half times as much heat and five times as much water as the average German hospital.

    In 2023, a comprehensive refurbishment began, with support from the BMZ and the European Union. The hospital must continue to operate while the construction work is being carried out. And this work is not a matter of a few cosmetic changes; the sanitation facilities, the electrical wiring, the heating, ventilation and cooling systems, along with the associated pump systems, all need to be replaced. The roof, the external façade and the windows also need to be refurbished, and the fire safety measures need to be brought up to modern standards.

    After the modernisation, the hospital’s overall energy consumption is expected to halve. This will reduce both energy costs and CO2 emissions. The work will extend the life cycle of the hospital building by 30 to 50 years, and will also make the clinic more comfortable for patients – regular complaints have previously been made about drafts and an uncomfortable indoor climate.

    The VMA Hospital is one of around a dozen public buildings being modernised in the Western Balkans with German support. These are almost always highly visible, well-known facilities so that the projects not only have an immediate impact on the buildings and their users but also serve as positive examples of greater energy efficiency more generally.