Energy efficiency aid launched for homes

Insulate Valencia campaign moves forward

AID to improve the energy efficiency of homes and tackle energy poverty was made available by the regional government on Monday.

Regional housing councillor Héctor Illueca said 84.5% of buildings are in the lowest bracket of energy efficiency ratings, ‘making the people who live in them extremely vulnerable to high and low temperatures’.

A total of €220 million has been allocated, financed by EU Next Generation economic recovery funds, to benefit more than 17,000 homes.

This year there is €20.8m available, which can be increased if all the resources assigned to the region are used up, by another €200m between 2022 and 2023, including initiatives aimed at the construction sector.

To qualify for the subsidies, the work on individual homes must be demonstrated to reduce consumption of non-renewable energy by 7%, and for whole apartment buildings by 30%.

Communities of property owners, businesses, public institutions and singlefamily homes can apply for these programmes as long as their income per household is less than three times the stipulated maximum for receiving aid (IPREM), which varies according to particular circumstances.

The home must occupy at least 70% of the constructed surface area and must be the owners’ habitual and permanent place of residence.

The aid can cover between 40% and 80% of the cost of the work, up to €18,800 per home, according to what is being done and the type of property.

Particularly vulnerable households can qualify for 100% of the cost, up to €26,750.

The work can have been started before making the application, but not before February 1 and cannot have already been finished.

It must be completed within 12 months of the aid being awarded for individual homes, and 26 months for apartment buildings.

Any homeowner or authorised financial advisor can make the application using a digital signature on the website www.gva.es/es/inicio/procedimientos?id_proc =22403 for individual homes. For apartment buildings the link is the same but ending in ‘4’.

The deadline for applications is December 1 but will be awarded in the order that applications are received.

More information is also available from town halls, for example email Pilar de la Horadada social services housing office at oiss@pilardela horadada.org