UPGREAT – Training Tool for Efficient Schools

The building sector is responsible for more than one third of the total greenhouse gas emissions and for 40 percent of energy consumption in the EU. To reduce emissions in the sector and meet EU climate targets, deep renovation of buildings is required. School buildings are of particular importance in this regard, as they are places of high social interest which have the potential to convey messages – for example about the impacts of energy-efficient buildings – to society. In Greece and Cyprus, a lack of training, awareness and consultancy among building professionals and municipal administrations has been hampering progress in this area.

Graphic Rendering of a school after deep energy renovation; Photo: © Hellenic Passive House Institute

The project team developed training programs for different target groups: local authorities, students at technical universities and vocational schools, young engineers, technical staff of local authorities, members of the civil society engaged with deep renovation efforts in their communities, and networks and associations of construction professionals and suppliers. The project team offered a total of 18 training courses (6 in Cyprus, 12 in Greece) focusing on case studies in schools, covering all target groups according to the needs of each country, making sure that each is sensitive to the site’s particularities and adapting the courses accordingly. The training courses were complemented by practical examples and on-site visits, so that participants gained a thorough understanding of retrofitting processes as well as of potential communication problems between design teams and construction teams. Thus, the project team provided the necessary skills to meet the demand for deep renovations that were continuously increasing as buildings age and climate goals’ deadlines approach. The trainings allowed everybody involved in schools’ renovation processes to keep up with new developments in energy-efficient renovation and thus contribute to the sustainable transformation of Greece’s and Cyprus’s building sectors and to the overall EU climate targets.

The UPGREAT project developed and implemented three distinct training programs tailored to different European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels, specifically for vocational training centers, technical high schools, and universities. A comprehensive technical survey (over 500 responses) on gaps and barriers faced by practitioners in implementing energy efficiency measures formed the basis for the development of the training programs. 

A total of 18 training courses (seven were planned initially) were conducted, benefiting 658 trainees, exceeding by far the initial target of 150 participants and thus underscored the high demand and relevance of the training provided. A readiness survey showed that 95% of participants found the training useful and 93% felt adequately prepared for energy-efficient renovations. Beyond these planned training courses, the project was able to expand the training offering via 18 additional training sessions to another 731 participants.  

19 educational institutions, vocational trainers, and training providers from Greece and Cyprus signed an MoU to adopt the Total Training Toolkit, demonstrating the project's success in promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in school buildings.

More results can be found on UPGREAT-website.