LocationsA Warmer Welcome: How the Petrovo Municipal Building Became a Symbol of Community Renewal
December 12, 2025
Municipality building, Petrovo
When winter arrives in Petrovo, the mountains around Ozren turn crisp and quiet. For years, however, the same cold crept into the very heart of the town - the Municipal Administration building where citizens came seeking services, support, and solutions.
People waited in cold hallways, staff worked beside heaters, and power outages constantly interrupted services. With its peeling façade and drafty windows, the building felt stuck in the past.
Today, that story has changed.
And the people of Petrovo feel it the moment they walk through the door.
Municipality building, Petrovo
A Building Reborn for the People Who Use It Every Day
Constructed in the 1960s, the Municipal Administration building has undergone a remarkable transformation - one that goes far beyond bricks, insulation, and technical upgrades. It has restored dignity, warmth, and pride to a community that long needed a modern public space.
Funded jointly by the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency of Republika Srpska and UNDP through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project “Scaling up Investments in Low-Carbon Public Buildings in B&H,” the nearly 1.4 million BAM investment has fully revitalized the building, improving comfort, energy performance, and service delivery.
New façade systems, 200 energy-efficient windows and doors, insulated attic spaces, and a modern pellet boiler system have turned a once cold, inefficient structure into a bright, warm, and fully functional home for local governance.
The shift from coal to a renewable heating system has had a major environmental impact. Previously, the Municipality of Petrovo consumed an average of 200 tons of coal annually, generating high levels of emissions. With the renovation, the annual CO₂ reduction now stands at approximately 170 tons, marking a decisive move toward sustainability.
A More Dignified Experience for Citizens
For citizens seeking documents, support, or services, the change is instantly visible and felt.
“The first reaction is definitely the visual effect,” says Slađana Lazarević from the Center for Culture, Information and Sports. “The building used to look abandoned. Now it is the pride of our community.”
Slađana Lazarević
But the transformation is not just aesthetic. Inside, rooms stay comfortably cool in summer and warm in winter. Services run without interruptions. Previously, overloaded electrical installations caused the entire building to lose power several times per hour - shutting down computers and halting municipal services.
“This especially affected our Radio Studio Petrovo,” Slađana adds. “Now we finally work without interruptions and can provide timely, quality information to our citizens.”
For long-time residents, the new building carries emotional weight.
“For someone whose children - and now grandchildren - are growing up here, this renovation is a turning point,” she reflects. “It gives hope that Petrovo will become more attractive to investors and move more confidently toward development.”
Better Working Conditions, Better Services
Inside the renovated offices, employees speak of a fundamental change.
“Earlier we worked in cold rooms with worn-out carpentry and poor insulation,” says Vanja Tripunović, Head of the Department for General Administration. “Even with heating, we had to use extra heaters and air conditioners, which led to power outages several times a day.”
Vanja Tripunović
Those challenges are now a thing of the past.
“Today, rooms are warm in winter, pleasant in summer, and filled with natural light. The work environment is more functional and motivating.”
This, she says, directly improves public service delivery: “In a comfortable, well-lit space, we work more efficiently and communicate better with citizens. The entire service experience is improved.”
Leadership Committed to a Greener Future
For Mayor Ozren Petrović, the reconstruction represents both a practical improvement and a long-awaited step toward better public services:
“We used to have enormous heating costs, yet the rooms were never fully warm,” says Mayor Petrović. “This winter will be our first full season in the energy-efficient building, and we expect significant savings.”
Ozren Petrović
Before the renovation, the Municipality of Petrovo consumed an average of 200 tons of coal per year to heat the building. Thanks to the new energy-efficient system, the annual reduction in CO₂ emissions now reaches 170 tons - a concrete step toward a cleaner, greener Petrovo.
The change, he explains, is already visible in daily work: “Optimal temperatures, no outside noise, stable electricity - our staff can finally work without interruptions.”
But the municipality has a broader vision.
“We plan to continue investing in energy efficiency,” Mayor Petrović notes. “Our priorities include the High School Centre, the ‘Ozren’ Health Centre, and the Sočkovac Cultural Centre. We also hope to install solar panels on public buildings - starting right here at the Municipal Administration building.”
He adds: “How far we go will depend on the support we receive. UNDP has been an essential partner, and thanks to their projects we also have energy-efficient schools in Petrovo and Kakmuž.”
A Community Story of Comfort, Confidence and New Possibilities
The revitalized Municipal Administration building stands today not just as an infrastructure upgrade, but as a place where citizens feel respected, where public employees can serve more effectively, and where Petrovo’s identity as a growing, sustainable community is visible in every detail.
It is a reminder that energy efficiency is about people - warmer rooms, brighter hallways, uninterrupted services, and a community that feels proud of the place it calls home.
Petrovo’s story shows that when public buildings become healthier, more comfortable, and more sustainable, entire communities flourish.
About the Project
This reconstruction was implemented within the GCF-funded project “Scaling up Investments in Low-Carbon Public Buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” carried out by UNDP in partnership with entity environmental protection funds and local governments. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower public sector energy costs, and improve comfort and wellbeing in schools, hospitals, municipal buildings and other public institutions across BiH.
Municipality of Petrovo representatives with the UNDP team
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