The Raanana Municipality has initiated a program for energy efficiency, as part of the city’s sustainability master plan that is being promoted by the Municipality, in keeping with its commitment to adhere to the international ICLEI treaty and the Forum 15 policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to protect the environment.

As part of this effort and in the first stage, steps will be taken to increase energy efficiency at the city’s educational institutions and to conserve on electricity consumption.

The Raanana Municipality recently conducted a greenhouse gas emission survey which indicated that most of the greenhouse gas emission in Raanana originates from energy consumption in buildings: residents and business constitute 94% of all the city’s emissions originate in the residents’ sector and 6% in the local authority’s various institutions.

Consequently, the municipality has decided to invest significant resources in the field of energy efficiency and in the first stage, the Municipal Administration for Sustainability is currently conducting an energy survey. After the survey is completed, and based on its findings, the municipal will prepare a comprehensive program for municipal energy efficiency in order to reduce the consumption of electricity.

In the first stage, as part of its summer renovation work at the city’s schools and preschools, the municipality will replace 200 air conditioning units, which were checked and found to be inefficient in terms of their energy consumption.  They will be replaced with more energy conserving air conditioners and with volume control, which switch off the electricity when the room is empty.  Moreover, 21 thousand fluorescent bulbs at all the schools will be replaced with T5 bulbs – with a longer life span and which are more economical in their use of electricity.  The Raanana Municipality reports that from an economical standpoint, this is a worthwhile investment, which will pay itself off in 3.5 to 4 years.

Also in the field of energy conservation:  The municipality is currently executing plans to install photovoltaic roofs to produce electricity from solar energy at the AGAM School and these roofs will soon be installed at Yonatan Middle School.  In the future, these roofs are scheduled to be installed in other educational institutions.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “We considerate our duty to reduce the consumption of electricity at municipal institutions and in the city of Raanana as a whole.  This is a part of our efforts to adopt an intelligent green and environmentally friendly lifestyle, which reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and helps preserve our planet’s resources for generations to come.”