The camp in Běleč received an award for the solar water heating system

This award is given to church projects developed with environmental protection in mind, which can become a model for other church organisations elsewhere in Europe.

The camp in Běleč, in a lowland region near Hradec Králové, was awarded for its solar water heating system, which is located on the main building and provides hot water throughout the main camp building, kitchen, dining hall and summer washrooms. The jury appreciated that the system contributes to greener camp operations, saves money, and also serves as inspiration for possible similar systems in the homes, homes, businesses, and schools of the thousands of visitors who come to camp each year.

The symbolic award ceremony took place on 15 June 2022 as part of ECEN's annual assembly, held online and attended by representatives from churches across Europe.

After presenting the award, Václav Španihel, the administrator of the camp in Běleč, also presented the next steps towards a more efficient functioning that are being planned at the camp - replacing old windows with insulating ones, heating with heat pumps and flushing with so-called grey water, i.e. clean wastewater that would otherwise end up without further use.

In addition to the symbolic recognition, the camp also received a financial reward and, a few weeks later, a package arrived in the mail with a commemorative plaque that will be hanging on the wall in the main camp building.

David Pfann