The National Library of Latvia (NLL), in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Economics, has completed the implementation of the European Union Recovery Fund project “Improvement of Energy Efficiency in the NLL Repository in Ropaži Municipality “Rakstos”.
On March 11, 2026, construction work in the building was completed and the building was put into operation. As a result of the construction work, all enclosing structures, including the foundations of the building, were insulated, a ventilated facade was installed, lighting fixtures were replaced with energy-efficient LED luminaires, a ventilation system was built in the employee area, partial window construction and their replacement, as well as rainwater drainage from the building.
Investments were made in the project to improve energy efficiency in the repository of the National Library of Latvia in Silakrogs “Rakstos” in Ropaži municipality, in order to achieve at least a 35% reduction in primary energy consumption in the building. In accordance with the construction plan developed and coordinated by the building authority, the construction works performed, and the building's temporary energy certificate, the work performed resulted in 60% primary energy savings, or 269 MWh/year.
Juris Ģiedris, Director of the NLL Department of Economics and Project Manager, highlights various challenges during the project’s construction: “The building was built in 1950 and was used as a military facility until the restoration of Latvia’s independence. Since 1998, the building has been used as the NLL’s book storage, and later as a repository – several previously unforeseen circumstances were discovered during the construction work. For example, during the dismantling of the roof, an asphalt concrete covering with an average thickness of 10 centimeters was found over the entire roof area, five large openings in the roof structure, an uncharacteristically rainy summer and autumn, as well as other larger or smaller scale discrepancies and deviations from the initially planned ones. These changes increased the amount of the initially concluded contract by 14.21%. NLL expresses its gratitude to both the author of the project, the builder, and the construction supervisor, who promptly resolved all these difficult situations, because with everyone’s cooperation, we have come to a successful result of the work and another energy-efficient building.”
Project implementation period: 29.12.2023. – 30.06.2026.
The project is financed from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Latvian state budget (Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Plan 1.2. Reform and investment direction “Improvement of energy efficiency” 1.2.1.4.i. investment “Improvement of energy efficiency in public sector buildings, including historic buildings”).
Total project financing: EUR 1,535,580.07, of which Recovery Fund financing: EUR 1,286,509.39, state budget co-financing: EUR 249,070.68.
Project construction contractor: SIA “Ekoteh būve” (Ltd.). Project author: SIA “Būvdizains” (Ltd.). Construction supervision: SIA “Geo Consultants” (Ltd.).
Total construction costs: EUR 1,115,823.61 excluding value added tax.
The conditions of the support program are included in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 443 of August 8, 2023.
About the Recovery and Resilience Facility:
The EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is a budget program managed centrally by the European Commission, established in addition to the EU's multiannual budget for the 2021–2027 programming period. The program aims to support reforms and investments related to the transition to a green and digital economy, as well as to mitigate the social and economic impact of the crisis. By the end of 2026, it is planned to invest EUR 1.97 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Facility in the Latvian economy by implementing reforms and making investments in all six areas of the Recovery and Resilience Facility: Climate and Energy (including REPowerEU), Digital Transformation, Reducing Inequality, Economic Transformation, Health, and Rule of Law.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility reforms and investments in Latvia are financed from the European Commission Recovery and Resilience Facility budget, with co-financing from the state budget.
Additional information:
Juris Giedris
Director of the Department of Economy, National Library of Latvia
Head of the EU Recovery Fund project “Improvement of Energy Efficiency in the NLL Repository in Ropaži Municipality “Rakstos”"
E-mail: Juris.Giedris@lnb.lv
Phone: +371 67806116, +371 29456979
(Translated with the help of DeepL Translate)
