Tashkent, Uzbekistan – The Award Ceremony to recognise the most energy efficient school of the city of Tashkent was held today. Public school №242 (School) was recognised as the most energy efficient  of the capital city.

The Award Ceremony was organised by the European Union (EU) through its project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia” (SECCA) in close cooperation with the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as part of the campaign EU–Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days.

The purpose of the Ceremony was to raise public awareness on importance and benefits of introducing energy efficiency and energy saving policies and practices in Uzbekistan. It was attended by representatives of the EU, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the School, national experts of Uzbekistan and the European experts in energy efficiency and energy audit.

Mr Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation Section of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan presented Ms Kamola Azimkhodjaeva, the School principal, a diploma and a commemorative crystal figurine, and stated:

“I wholeheartedly congratulate teachers, students, and parents of School №242 for this achievement! “The most energy efficient school” Award underscores the importance of energy conservation not only in educational institutions, but also in buildings across Uzbekistan. This accomplishment is the School’s contribution to sustainable energy transition of the country. I hope other schools will be inspired by your outstanding example, will strive to use natural resources more efficiently, save energy, and do their bit to protect the environment and climate.”

This nomination follows the research conducted by the SECCA project, which has identified the top-performing institution in terms of energy efficiency (electricity use), based on the data provided by the Agency for Strategic Reforms and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The assessment was based on evaluation of energy consumption per student. This approach reveals how the schoolchildren and teachers influence energy use and offers a panoramic view of school’s energy practices and performance, providing a foundation for targeted interventions and improvements.

School principal Ms Azimkhodjaeva has been also invited to a study tour to Europe to learn the European experience in renewable energy, energy saving, energy efficiency, and transition to sustainable energy. The study tour is scheduled to take place in November 2023 and organised by the SECCA project.

The award ceremony was followed by the workshop “Energy audits in buildings – from theory to practice” held by the EU project’s experts with the objective of sharing the knowledge, experience and best practices with Uzbek energy experts.

Background: The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. To fulfil its mission, SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context, and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in CA countries, including equal access to energy, and supporting gender inclusive policies and legislation for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). The project activities include capacity development for EE and RE deployment, awareness raising on EE and RE, and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.

The EU–Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader EU – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of all national stakeholder groups and the broader public in the region on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy. Multiple events took place within this campaign in Uzbekistan, including the International Conference “Energy Efficiency in Uzbekistan: prospects and challenges”, the technical workshop “Energy audits in buildings – from theory to practice”, and other bilateral meetings and consultations.

For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, Communication Strategist, SECCA, email: media@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77019814020, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, Media Relations and Digital Communication Expert, SECCA, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, WhatsApp/Telegram: +77012066760, or the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan: delegation-uzbekistan-political@eeas.europa.eu.