Energy savings are transforming lives at Sfânta Treime hospital
Nestled in a quiet, tree-lined corner of North Chișinău, Spitalul Clinic Municipal Sfânta Treime serves not only as a centre for healing, but also as a model of forward-thinking care. Bright corridors stretch through the hospital, echoing with quiet footsteps and the calm conversations of the dedicated medical staff. These walls have witnessed transformation, not only in how patients are treated, but also in how energy itself has become an ally in saving lives.
Sfânta Treime has undergone a deep transformation thanks to the support of the EBRD and the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P), to which the European Union and Sweden are the largest contributors. It is part of a wider initiative with a focus on energy efficiency refurbishment of healthcare institutions in four Moldovan districts. Energy-saving upgrades have not only made the hospital greener and more comfortable, but they have also freed up crucial resources.
The energy efficiency measures have led to an impressive 40 per cent reduction in energy use, saving nearly 3.9 million kWh annually and cutting utility costs by approximately €330,000 each year. These savings, made possible by upgrades such as better insulation, modern windows, advanced lighting systems and rooftop solar panels, have enabled the hospital to reallocate critical funds, directly benefiting the operating theatre where they’re needed most.
“We used to work in older surgical rooms with weak lighting and inconsistent temperature control,” recalls Dr Gheorghe Lupu, head of interventional radiology. “Now we have bright, air-conditioned rooms where both patients and staff feel safe and focused. But the most important change is the equipment.”
While the E5P and EBRD support focused on the hospital’s energy efficiency upgrades, the cost savings generated have enabled Sfânta Treime to invest in cutting-edge medical technology; most notably a technically advanced angiograph, which now sits at the heart of the new surgical theatre.
“This new angiograph is equipped with all the advanced software necessary for modern intervention,” explains Dr Lupu. “It allows us to carry out much more complex procedures, with greater precision and less discomfort for the patient. That means faster recovery, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.”