11.03.2022.
The energy renovation of five out of eight units of Ugljan Mental Health Hospital was completed under the project worth more than HRK 23 million.Intermediate Body level 2 at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund supported this project from the outset, while the head of IB2, Sanja Jelačić, said that the importance of investments in energy renovation of the buildings in the healthcare system requires special attention. “It is our pleasure that the Fund has the opportunity to participate in the projects like this one, with the allocation of the grant from European funds amounting to almost 3.5 million aimed at achieving the national energy savings goals, and many other benefits,” said Sanja Jelačić, the head of the Intermediate Body level 2.
Mladen Mavar, the hospital administrator, said that the renovated buildings were constructed in 1942, and the renovation had to be comprehensive due to deterioration. “The works were carried out in stages because we couldn’t renovate all five buildings simultaneously because we have patients to accommodate. The renovation was extensive and only exterior walls remain, while all buildings got the new façade with insulation, new roofs, windows, thermal insulation of floors, and all wiring and utilities were replaced,” said Mavar.
The first renovation contracts were signed in 2019, the works started in January 2020, everything was completed late last year, and after the reconstruction and energy renovation of all five buildings, electricity savings will amount of somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 kunas per year.
The state secretary at the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds Šime Erlić pointed out that European projects are not easy to implement, and it was even more difficult in the case of an island. “In fact, the most difficult thing is implementing the project at a hospital; we know how hospitals function, we know there’s a limit, and even some financially much more stable institutions would think twice before taking on a project like this. It takes courage, heart, and vision, understanding the local and regional community, and help from all stakeholders – the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, the Environmental Protection Fund, the Ministry of Construction. Without joint support, a project like this would not be possible,” said Erlić.
The mayor of Zadar County, Božidar Longin, said that the fact that this institution was entering its 7th decade was enough to justify the renovation of buildings. “We’re located on an island, the administrator is an islander through the core, and I’m sure he will light up once he sees the savings on overheads,” said Longin.
The mayor of Municipality Preko, Jure Brižić, where Ugljan Mental Health Hospital is located, also said that without the well-prepared projects, without the synergy and support of the local and regional community and the ministries, projects like this one could not be implemented. “Some 140 people from Ugljan and Pašman work at the hospital, we want them have good working conditions, and also for the patients to have adequate and quality accommodation,” concluded mayor Brižić.
