Lyceum No. 12 in Kovel, Volyn oblast, has reopened after a major energy-efficiency renovation that significantly improves conditions for more than 1,200 students and staff. The school, originally built over 30 years ago, was fully modernised with upgraded insulation, new windows and doors, improved heating systems, and enhanced accessibility features such as ramps and safer surrounding infrastructure. The project was financed through a €982,000 loan from the European Investment Bank.
The school marks the first completed project under the EIB’s Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency Programme, which aims to modernise more than 140 public facilities across over 70 Ukrainian communities, including schools, hospitals and cultural centres. The initiative is part of wider efforts to improve energy performance, reduce operating costs and strengthen public infrastructure resilience.
Ukrainian officials highlighted the importance of such upgrades for national recovery, noting that modernising public buildings helps reduce energy bills, improve living and learning conditions, and enhance energy security amid ongoing power disruptions. The renovated school is also expected to deliver long-term savings that can be redirected to other community priorities.
Local authorities in Kovel described the project as a practical improvement that makes the school warmer, more efficient and more comfortable for daily use. It is also seen as a model for other municipalities, demonstrating how energy-efficiency investments can directly benefit public services.
The programme is supported by multiple European and international partners, including EU-backed initiatives and development organisations, under a broader “Team Europe” approach. EU representatives emphasised that the investment reflects not only infrastructure renewal but also broader recovery efforts aimed at creating sustainable, energy-efficient public spaces that support education and community development.
