Photo credit: Rudan d.o.o.
Energy renovated as part of an innovative Croatian government initiative to boost energy performance contracting, Karlovac Hospital was fully energy renovated to a very high standard, proving that energy performance contracting is a viable model for high occupancy, public buildings
This hospital, built in the 1960’s, is the main hospital for Karlovac county, located at the “elbow” of Croatia and having a population of around 130,000 people. It was built at a time when energy performance standards were non-existent as a reinforced concrete frame with infill panels that were highly energy inefficient and often poorly fitted. The original building was uninsulated, had single glazing and was connected to the district heating network that ran on heating oil.
In 2013, the Croatian government launched a programme of extensive and ambitious energy renovation of public buildings using energy performance contracting as the main delivery methodology. Karlovac Hospital was one of the first buildings to benefit from this successful programme and today the people of Karlovac have a modern, highly energy efficient hospital to provide their health care.
Principal Characteristics of the Renovation Works:
| Ownership type: | Public |
| Year of construction: | 1963 |
| Renovation completed: | 2014 |
| Floor area after works: | 36,0000m² |
| Structure: | Loadbearing reinforced concrete frame with infill panels. The entire façade was renovated using an ETICS system. All external windows and doors were replaced, and walls and roof insulated |
| Heating and energy: | The building was disconnected from the district heating and 6 thermal sub-stations installed in the building. The building now runs on solar collectors coupled with heat pumps, has a building energy management system, new thermostatic valves throughout the building and new low-energy lighting. Back up heating is provided using natural gas |
| Energy performance: | Guaranteed energy savings after works reached 54% |
| Cost of works: | €8.6m (€240 per m²) |
| Technical consultants: | Rudan d.o.o. |
BuildUp post on ESCO renovation model of the hospital in Karlovac Croatia: https://www.buildup.eu/en/practices/cases/esco-renovation-model-hospital-karlovac-croatia
Article from the Croatian Ministry of Construction and Planning on the Karlovac Hospital renovation Energy renovation shall effectuate savings, improve accommodation and working conditions, as well as the visual perception of the City of Karlovac https://mgipu.gov.hr/news/energy-renovation-shall-effectuate-savings-improve-accommodation-and-working-conditions-as-well-as-the-visual-perception-of-the-city-of-karlovac/8688
ROCKWOOL Article on ESCO programme, by Susanne Dyrbøl, 04/04/2019: https://www.rockwoolgroup.com/our-thinking/blog/cities-in-need-of-renovation-but-lacking-public-funds-can-learn-a-lot-from-croatia/
Commission presentation on energy renovation of buildings in Croatia, by Irena Križ Šelendić, with Karlovac General Hospital as an example: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/006_kriz_selendic_seif_milan_16-11-17.pdf