OMV Petrom and Energy Policy Group (EPG) have inaugurated, in Șimian, Mehedinți County, the fifth educational establishment renovated through the Efficient Romania program, launched in 2019. The boarding school of the “Tudor Vladimirescu” Technological High School was modernized and energy rehabilitated through an investment of over €1.5 million provided by OMV Petrom, and the building now reaches the nZEB standard – near-zero energy consumption.
This is the second educational unit completed in 2025, after the modernization of the workshops and laboratories of the Technological High School in Vernești, Buzău County. With these two objectives, the Efficient Romania program’s balance sheet reaches five educational institutions transformed into energy-efficient spaces and adapted to current safety, health and accessibility standards.
For the community of Șimian, the project marks an essential step in improving the educational infrastructure. The 1,100-square-meter building built in the 1970s was in an advanced state of disrepair, with insufficient insulation, faulty electrical and plumbing installations and no ventilation or air conditioning. Today, the boarding school provides modern and efficient conditions for 60 students and three teachers who supervise them throughout the school year.
“Energy efficiency is essential for a sustainable future, and education plays a crucial role in this,” said Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom. “Through the Efficient Romania program, launched in 2019, we are investing around €15 million to modernize educational establishments with energy-saving technologies and for outreach programs. The inauguration of the fifth unit renovated to nZEB standard is another important step in building smarter and greener communities.”
In his turn, Radu Dudău, EPG president and project coordinator, emphasized the model value of this investment: “In 2025 we managed to complete two major projects of in-depth renovation of rural school buildings, now raised to nZEB standard. The boarding school of Tudor Vladimirescu Technological High School is today a safe, modern and energy efficient building, an example that the transformation of educational infrastructure is possible in smaller communities, not only in large urban centers.”
The works aimed both to increase energy performance and to fully modernize the installations. The building has been insulated with high-performance materials, triple-glazed windows have been fitted, a hybrid heating system based on heat pumps and a gas-fired central heating plant has been installed, and energy production is supported by a 30 kW photovoltaic system. The electrical and plumbing installations have been completely refurbished, and the boarding school now benefits from mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and a high-efficiency LED lighting system.
The results are significant: the building’s annual energy consumption drops by 60% and carbon emissions are reduced by 45%, with much improved thermal comfort and air quality for students and teachers.
The boarding school in Șimian joins four other educational units already renovated under the Efficient Romania program: the “Elie Radu” Technological Energy High School in Ploiești, the Liliești Secondary School in Băicoi, the Zig-Zag Kindergarten in Ovidiu and the Technological High School in Vernești. Together, they outline a network of best practices that show how private investment and the expertise of public policy organizations can transform Romania’s education infrastructure while supporting the transition to a low-emission future.