Sustainable Cities and Communities

In Sidera, Kozani, near the new Perasma solar cluster, we completed the renovation of the old school of the village, which is now a cultural meeting center of the local community.

As part of our social activities and initiatives in the wider area of construction of our company's new "Perasma" Solar Cluster we completed the renovation of the old historic school building, in the village of Sidera, Kozani. The need for renovation existed before and after dialogue with the local community it was implemented by external partners of our company and was completed in July.

A historic building

The old school building of the village was constructed around 1930 and functioned as an educational center for many years, offering knowledge to the children of the village and being a reference point for the cultural heritage of the area. Due to the limited number of students who now live in Sideras, the operation of the school was suspended and today, the building hosts the cultural center of the village as well as all the activities of the community.

In recent decades, the condition of the building has been poor, with significant damage to its exterior, due to lack of proper maintenance work on the building. Thus, we designed an initiative that aimed at the complete renovation of the façade of the building, as well as the surrounding area.

Respecting tradition

The original façade of the building was made of stone, but it was covered with plaster, losing its beautiful and traditional appearance. At the same time, natural wear and tear had altered its characteristics over the years. So, in collaboration with the local community, we decided to highlight the original architecture of the building, with respect to the historical construction and the tradition of stonework. The work included, among other things, the removal of coatings and plasters, the grinding of stone and joints, as well as the construction of a system so that groundwater and moisture do not cause damage to external surfaces. At the same time, hidden lighting was installed which highlights the stone even better.

We delivered to the local community the completed project, which now highlights the historical value of the building and reinforces its importance as a center of all activities in Sidera. Recently, the courtyard of the renovated building hosted the festival of Prophet Elias, organized by the Cultural Educational & Naturalist Association of Sideras "The Refugees", with the participation of hundreds of residents of the village and the wider region.

Creating value

The Sidera project confirms our commitment to actions that benefit society and local communities in the Kozani region. These multifaceted actions include our support for activities in the area, the program to identify energy needs in Mavrodendri, Kozani, and  the construction of the "Kivotos" that creatively utilized hundreds of wooden pallets from the Perasma cluster to create a wooden structure for disabled children.

Our Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with this action being part of Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

We created a new prototype wooden playground by used wooden pallets, that was symbolically named "Kivotos".

In Kozani, we completed a new innovative project that utilized the principles and practices of circular economy to offer education and empowerment to children but also to enhance the entertainment infrastructure of the  Center for Recovery - Rehabilitation, Day Care for People with Disabilities "Kivotos", in Kozani, operating in the country, since 2000. The project "Creating an Ark" was funded by the company,  with the contribution of the Cluster of Bioeconomy & Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) and the scientific support of the Department of Visual & Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia.

Through the project, the artistic skills of the children hosted at the Center were developed, the perception of the wider community about the value of material reuse and circular economy was strengthened and the relationship of the local community with the University of Western Macedonia was further cultivated, through the internship of 35 students who worked at the different stages of the construction of the wooden ark.

The "journey" of the pallet

More specifically, 500 wooden pallets that transported the PV panels to the "Perasma" Solar Cluster under construction, as well as 6 huge wooden cable drum with a diameter of 1.5m with medium voltage cables used in the project, were the raw material of this important project.

The process was divided into three phases. Initially, last December, the Center used part of the materials to create Christmas greeting cards, decorative ornaments and gifts, which were curated by the children. The children's creations were offered to our employees, and were distributed at the Christmas bazaar of the Center.

Then, students of the Department of Visual & Applied Arts of the University of Western Macedonia created original and utilitarian wooden toys. The objects helped the children of the "Kivotos" to develop their imagination and promote their social inclusion.

The culmination of the project was the creation of the wooden playground named "Kivotos", within the Center's facilities. For its construction, more than 450 man-hours were allocated and natural timber was used, as well as wooden pallets and wooden cable drum from the construction of the "Perasma" Solar Cluster. The ark can host dozens of children at the same time, being a unique meeting point, coexistence and respect for diversity. The area is covered and suitable for wheelchairs, in order for every child to have free access to the game. To complete the scenery, the remaining construction raw materials were transformed into wooden toys, which have been placed inside the playground.

Projects with social impact

The support to the "Kivotos" project, which annually benefits 120 families in the wider region, is practical proof of our commitment to give back to society. It is yet another initiative in a series of circular economy projects, such as the reuse of old merchandising materials in the context of rebranding in collaboration with Fabric Republic and the creation of a recreational area in its wind farm "Soros", in Evros. Driven by innovation and creativity, we create shared value, in every area where we operate, with this initiative being part of SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities.

We undertook the study of energy needs in Mavrodendri, Kozani and implemented a three-fold program, through which residents received personalized support to improve their quality of life.

We actively support local communities in the areas where we operate, contributing steadily to local cultural events and social programs. In this way, we demonstrate our commitment to the holistic development of each region, as well as the creation of mutual value.

In this context, we implemented the program "Energy Poverty - Identification and addressing of energy needs", for the community of Mavrodendri Kozani. Nearby, there is the Perasma Solar Cluster, with a total capacity of 95 MW, which will contribute significantly to the country's energy transition.

An innovative program

The aim of the project, implemented in collaboration with the Bioeconomy and Environment Cluster (CluBE) of Western Macedonia, was to investigate the phenomenon of energy poverty in Kozani. The area of Mavrodendri was chosen as it is located both in the coldest zone of the country and in the center of the energy transition.

The three stages of the initiative

The project was implemented in three phases. Initially, a detailed survey was carried out, in which the residents participated, in order to record the energy needs of the community. The data collected provided important information on the socio-economic status and energy consumption patterns of households in the region.

The company then used the survey data and created a roadmap for households and local authorities to effectively tackle energy poverty.

Practical applications

At the same time, for the most substantial support of the local community, a one-stop shop was created and staffed. The service offered interested parties personalised advice on energy efficiency and upgrading buildings.

At the same time, residents had the opportunity to be informed about the available financial tools regarding the implementation of energy upgrades in their homes. The installation of solar panels or battery systems, as well as the improvement of heating and cooling systems, are recommended solutions in this field.

This is the only structure in Greece designed to facilitate two-way communication between citizens and experts, promoting sustainable energy practices.

Meaningful support to local communities

The initiative is part of our strategy to empower local communities in all areas where we operate. More specifically, in the area of Kozani, we implemented the Vamvakies Social Green Project. The program aimed to support entrepreneurship and empower citizens of Kozani to develop careers in the food industry. At the same time,  a group of women cultivated aromatic plants in our solar park in Vamvakies. Women were supported to become micro-entrepreneurs, market these original products and earn a significant income.

We demonstrate daily our commitment to a sustainability model based on initiatives and targeted actions with a significant impact on people's lives. Our Creating Shared Value - CSV initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with this program being part of SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production.