A community center shaped like a passive house is being built in Boldesti – Scaieni in Prahova county, near Ploiesti. The center, developed with a EUR 300,000 investment from OMV Petrom, will mainly benefit the gipsy population in the area, which make about 10% of the town’s inhabitants, or about 1,200 people.

The educational and vocation center, run by the Rroma center Amare Rromentza, will help increase the standard of living, as well as the education level of the gipsy community in the area. It will offer professional training courses to help locals find jobs or start businesses.

The center is being built by volunteer work, via Habitat for Humanity Romania, which brings volunteers from local companies, together with locals, to construction sites.

The building should become the most sustainable in Europe, as it is built as a passive house. The Romanian-made design used for this center was presented for the first time at Solar Decathlon Europe in 2012, when Romania won the second place.  Being a passive house will allow the center to run on almost zero costs.

OMV Petrom ruins some activities in the town of Boldesti Scaieni, has allotted EUR 300,000 between 2012 and 2015 for this community center. Amare Rromentza has been running after – school and training programs since 2011 in the town.

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