Naturgy Foundation and Cáritas renew their energy collaboration to increase the over 17,000 people attended to in 2017
Both entities will launch two new social innovation programmes that will use renewable generation to fight against energy poverty and to promote employment for vulnerable individuals.
Around 750 homes of beneficiaries of the social organisation have been refurbished thanks to the collaboration.
Chairman of the Naturgy Foundation, Rafael Villaseca; Vice-Chairman of the Foundation, Jordi Garcia Tabernero, and the General Director, María Eugenia Coronado, have renewed the collaboration agreement with Cáritas Spain Chairman Manuel Bretón, which has enabled them to attend to over 17,000 people since 2017.
According to this new agreement, the Naturgy Foundation will maintain its contribution of resources to continue with energy refurbishments of the homes of vulnerable families to improve their efficiency and help them save on their utility bills. Its Energy School will also continue to offer advice and energy training for vulnerable families attended to by Cáritas Spain.
Villaseca, who was satisfied with the results obtained to date, said that “the fifth renewal of the agreement with Cáritas Spain proves that collaboration with social organisations is essential to reach the people who need it most”. “The Cáritas network is essential to continue extending the scope of our social programmes so that more and more people can save on their bill and consume efficiently without losing well-being in their homes”, he added.
Meanwhile, Bretón highlighted “the importance of renewing this collaboration with Naturgy to continue accompanying families in situations of greater vulnerability and to be able to guarantee their adequate and decent access to domestic energy supplies, especially at times when these difficulties are increasing for a good number of the homes we support”.
García Tabernero explained that “this year we also want to promote social innovation projects that use renewable energies to address energy vulnerability”. “With these new initiatives we showcase our dual social and environmental commitment to contribute to a fair energy transition that leaves no one behind”, said the Vice-Chairman of Naturgy Foundation.
Social innovation projects
Following the successful experience last year in the Cáritas building in Ávila, which benefited more than 1,200 people, the two entities have agreed to implement two new social innovation projects in Torrent, Valencia, and in Cuenca.
These initiatives consist of installing solar panels on the buildings of vulnerable families or the social organisation itself, to use renewable generation in the fight against energy poverty. Families with fewer resources can thus benefit from the savings offered by this type of energy. These projects also promote employment among vulnerable groups.
The first will be launched at the Mare de Deu dels Desamparats i dels Innocents home in the Valencian town of Torrent. The initiative will install 78 solar panels (35 kWp) in this home to 26 unaccompanied migrant minors. The installation will equip the building with a self-supply system that will reduce consumption expenses. With the energy saved, Cáritas will be able to attend to the essential needs of these young people.
The second project, called ‘Sustainable energy for people at Risk of Exclusion’, will be implemented in the Cáritas Diocese building in Cuenca. It will consist of making the work space more sustainable for the Solidary Economy (Training and Career Guidance and Mediation), Social Inclusion (homes, meal service for the elderly with an industrial kitchen, and industrial cooling chambers and freezers) and for the Active Ageing programme. A total of around 600 people with benefit with the installation of 50 solar panels (20 kWp)
Refurbishment of around 750 homes
Ongoing collaboration over the last four years has enabled Cáritas to manage the refurbishment of around 750 homes of vulnerable families and the entity’s other living solutions, which have benefited from improved energy efficiency in flats and savings on utilities. These actions are possible thanks to the Naturgy Foundation's Energy Rehabilitation Solidarity Fund.
The Naturgy Foundation’s Energy School will hold training sessions for beneficiaries of the social organisation to explain basic concepts of contracts, managing their bills and regulatory updates, as well as offer tips for better energy use at home.
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