Yerevan preschool N 48 has opened its doors after the reconstruction fulfilled within the frames of Yerevan Energy Efficiency Program. Yerevan Deputy Mayor Tigran Avinyan, the Ambassador if European Union to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, the head of European Investment Bank Representation in South Caucasus Maciej Czura, Deputy Manager of the E5P  Ewa Manik, the Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia Patrick Swenson, representatives of the municipality and administrative districts, members of the Council of Elders were present at the opening event.
Vice-mayor Avinyan outlined that Yerevan Municipality not only made the program continuative but also organized renovations of a greater number of preschools. This year there will be 23 overhauled energy efficient kindergartens with well-arranged courtyards.
The EU Ambassador stressed the importance of the program particularly from the point of view of seismic stability and energy safe environment. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to get education, and upbringing in better conditions. Ms Wiktorin outlined that it is important to do more for the environment protection and creation of safe conditions for children.
The construction started in 2021. As a priority the building was seismically fortified, then thermos-insulated and overhauled. Doors and windows were replaced with new ones, water supply and discharge systems as well as power lines were renewed. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the preschool, so it has a boiler working on solar energy. Besides energy saving the program also contributed to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
Due to the renovation, the premises of the preschool, which used to be locked for years, are now opened so instead of previous 100 kids in 4 groups, the preschool can accept 360 kids in 12 groups.
The project cost is 15 million euro, and it involves 15 kindergartens. It is fulfilled due to the EIB loan means and E5P grant the largest donor of which is the European Union. Yerevan Energy Efficiency Program is also financed from the community budget. The Green Climate Fund allotted a separate fund via the UN Development Program.

Ewa Manik expressed her delight with the results of the project. She also expressed confidence that energy saving program will benefit the activity of the educational establishment.
The Ambassador of Sweden stressed that he had seen the preschool before renovation and the difference is more than obvious. The finances were used purposefully and efficiently. He added that numerous studies were conducted in the world, and they show that energy saving can save the world, and Sweden was one of the initiators of the project in 2009.
Maciej Czura said he felt inspiration seeing the building overhauled particularly because the young residents of the city benefitted from it. Energy saving is not just a local problem but a common one. Comprehensive programs are implemented worldwide considering public interests. For them, he added, the renovation of preschools was a priority.
Tigran Avinyan claimed that the city authorities feel obliged to provide all conditions so that children can get high-quality education. He added that next year they are planning to have 33 overhauled preschools, and in 2025 – 35 more ones. Besides, four new kindergartens will be built.