The Regional Director for Energy revealed today that the Regional Government has concluded the first phase of the Energy Efficiency Programme in regional Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS). This initiative aims to “support these important Azorean institutions by enhancing their energy efficiency, an essential factor to achieve savings through the reduction of energy costs." 

The Energy Efficiency Program in IPSS was developed by the Regional Directorate for Energy in conjunction with the Regional Directorate for Social Solidarity. It consists of energy audits intended to assess the conditions of energy use by IPSS as well as the analysis of consumption and energy performance of systems and equipment. 

Following this process, an energy certificate is issued under the Azores Buildings Energy Certification System, which also includes a report containing the main measures towards reduced consumption. 

For Andreia Carreiro, the energy consumption of each building depends on the activity developed and the use of the facilities. This is why “the specialised and targeted support provided by the Regional Government to these intuitions in the Azores is of paramount importance, also under this programme,” which is divided into two phases, covering 15 IPSS throughout the archipelago. 

The Regional Director spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the daycare centre, kindergarten and Free Time Activity Centre of the Santa Catarina Institute, São Jorge Island, where she delivered the energy certificate, currently with a B energy rating, with the potential to achieve A + by adopting the improvement measures presented. 

It should be noted that these measures can be co-financed under an opening notice launched by the Azores 2020 Operational Programme, with an allocation of 1.5 million Euros and a maximum co-financing rate of 85%, covering the total eligible cost. 

This notice provides support for projects aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of Public Administration and IPSS buildings and equipment, including the production of energy from renewable sources with a view to self-consumption. 

Andreia Carreiro also stressed that the "acquisition and installation of clean energy production equipment for self-consumption is also supported by the Regional Government through PROENERGIA, with IPSS benefitting from support of up to 20 thousand Euros per project." 

As a complement to the various information and awareness-raising actions promoted by the Regional Government in this area, an online session will soon take place with the aim of promoting energy efficiency in the Public Administration and IPSS, which will include the presentation of programmes and incentive systems available for this purpose.