New photovoltaic systems and heat pumps at the Comenius camp
In July 2025, the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren began installing a photovoltaic system and heat pumps in the main building of the J. A. Komenský camp in Běleč nad Orlicí. The project will contribute to more environmentally friendly and sustainable operation of the leisure facility and improve its carbon footprint.
The investment will increase energy independence and reduce energy consumption at the J. A. Komenský Home and Camp in Běleč nad Orlicí.
As part of the measure, the heating system, which combines gas and electric heaters, will be dismantled and replaced by a system of photovoltaic modules on the roof of the main building (with a total output of approx. 49.815 kWp) and three air-water heat pumps (with a total output of 48.3 kW) in the technical area of the building. The photovoltaic system will generate electricity for the normal operation of the building and to power the heat pumps that will heat the entire building. This will also involve the completion of the central heating system in one part of the main building.
The project documentation was prepared in 2023. In 2024, funding was granted from the State Environmental Fund as part of the National Renewal Plan, and at the beginning of 2025, the construction company Nukleon s. r. o. was selected. Construction work is scheduled to take place from August 2025 to December 2025.
The main benefits of the measure are a significant reduction in the operating costs of the main building, increased energy self-sufficiency for the camp, and environmentally friendly electricity generation and heating for the building.
We are also renovating the sanitary facilities at the camp
Since April of this year, extensive renovation work has also been underway on the washrooms ‘behind the creek’. This renovation includes thermal insulation of the exterior walls, installation of an air-water heat pump with a new heating system, measurement and control, installation of energy-saving LED lights, and installation of a forced ventilation system with heat recovery. The aim of this project is to reduce the building's energy consumption and modernise it in line with current standards and requirements. The conversion of the existing storage rooms will also create a completely new club room in the building.