Cost-effective energy upgrades will generate enough savings over their lifetimes for building owners and building managers to significantly improve margins. But that still requires being able to pay for the upfront cost of the energy upgrade. Utility-funded rebates, state incentives, and external and internal financing options can help bridge the gap in upfront costs. An energy efficiency retrofit is where good budget management meets environmental sustainability, addressing climate change and caring for the planet. This also applies to nonprofit organisations working or hosting vulnerable groups of citizens.
Nonprofits, able to raise funds for energy efficiency measures, can enjoy significant benefits, including lower operating costs, more comfort for vulnerable residents, and healthier facilities, and affordable and predictable energy bills. Unfortunately, the access to finance for nonprofit organisations is still very limited despite all the upside benefits and energy-saving potential many of them have.
Currently a Net Zero Energy Care project is being realised in Thessaloniki, Greece, providing a pilot scheme and proof of concept to showcase results. Meanwhile, the TIMA Charitable Foundation and INZEB are organising within the context of the EU Climate Pact a roundtable discussion to highlight the need for tailored financing schemes for the energy upgrade and energy autonomy of nonprofit care homes (and other nonprofit institutions) in Greece.
Policymakers, financing experts, bank representatives, ESCOs, academia, philanthropy representatives and civil society organisations are joining the dialogue to provide feedback and insights based on their expertise and knowledge. The main outcomes of this roundtable are to prepare the ground for the continuation of this important dialogue, especially in the view of the Social Climate Fund, and to create specific “next steps” to expand access to funding for renovating institutional buildings.
The event is poised to accomplish multifaceted objectives. Participants will engage in comprehensive discussions to understand the advantages of renovating high-energy-consuming buildings into zero-energy institutions designed to house vulnerable citizens. The emphasis extends beyond discussion as attendees are encouraged to commit to collective action, pledging their support for transitioning care homes and similar structures into net-zero institutions. Funding opportunities, notably through the Social Climate Fund (SCF), the EU’s pioneering fund dedicated to sustainable mobility and energy efficiency, will be explored, particularly in supporting building facilities, such as care homes, that cater to vulnerable citizen groups. The anticipated impacts of the event are significant, with participants expected to become advocates for resilient, low-energy-consumption buildings, actively promoting the health benefits of such structures and championing support for vulnerable groups grappling with climate impacts.
The event seamlessly aligns with the European Climate Pact‘s overarching mission, constituting a substantial step towards building a more sustainable Europe by enhancing the resilience of both buildings and citizens. The event will progress with presentations from Ms Evangelia Georgitsi, Communication Officer, European Commission, Ms Niki Dandolou, Special Secretary EU/ESF Programme Management, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mr Zisis Ioannidis, Special Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Prof. Giota Touloumi, Biostatistics – Epidemiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dr Ourania Konstanti, Biologist, Laboratory Teaching Staff, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, MrMarkos Komondouros, Investing For Purpose, Ms Angeliki Boura, Coordinator, Cluster Environment and Energy, ICC Women Hellas, Ms Vassiliki Koumpli, Deputy Coordinator Cluster Environment and Energy, ICC Women Hellas, Ms Eleni Giannopoulou, Coordinator Cluster Health, ICC Women Hellas, and Mr Adrian Joyce, Campaign Director, Renovate Europe Campaign. Welcome addresses will be given by Ms Alice Corovessi, Managing Director of INZEB, acting also as the event moderator and Mr Paul Kidner, Advisor, TIMA Charitable Foundation. More than 40 experts have confirmed their participation in this important #EUClimatePact dialogue.