As detailed by the Government Delegation in the region, this funding allows municipalities and regional government to undertake actions that would otherwise be very difficult to tackle with our own resources. In addition to making progress in energy efficiency and fight against climate changeThe works aim to improve the habitability of the buildings and the working and daily use conditions of those who occupy them.
175 million from the PIREP for 89 Andalusian public buildings
The Government Delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández, explained that the deployment of more than 175 million euros from the PIREP, charged to the Recovery Plan, translates into energy improvement actions in a total of 89 public buildings of the autonomous community. The program is structured around two main lines: one of an autonomous nature and another local, both aimed at comprehensively rehabilitating buildings for public use.
These interventions range from modernizing air conditioning systems to replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewable solutions, as well as reinforcing the thermal isolation and the improvement of the building envelope of buildings. The goal is to significantly reduce the consumption of non-renewable primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions, while simultaneously increasing indoor comfort.
Fernández emphasized that state funding typically covers more than half of the investment in many projects, enabling municipalities with limited resources to upgrade to more modern and sustainable facilities. This collaboration, he noted, is also generating a “construction fund” which has a direct impact on local employment and the economic activity of the territory.
Within the general framework of the Recovery Plan, the PIREP falls under the Investment 5 of Component 2, initially endowed with 1.080 billion euros at the state level, specifically intended for the energy and functional rehabilitation of public buildings throughout Spain.
Granada, one of the provinces that benefited the most
In the territorial distribution, the province of Granada is among those that concentrate the largest amount. More than 26 million euros Of the total allocated to Andalusia, some are directed to actions in this territory, combining both projects owned by the regional government and initiatives promoted by local entities.
Of the provincial amount, around 19,1 millones de euros These funds correspond to the regional PIREP (Regional Investment Plan for Protected Areas) and are earmarked for several emblematic buildings located in the city of Granada. Among them are the following: Palace of Carlos V, Caleta Courts’s most emblematic landmarks, the Palace of exhibitions and congresses and Faculty of Fine Arts, buildings that combine high heritage, institutional and academic value.
These interventions in unique buildings seek to combine the conservation of heritage with the incorporation of current energy efficiency criteriaThis, in historic or well-established buildings, requires particularly careful technical solutions. The intention is to achieve significant energy savings without compromising the everyday use or the architectural value of the spaces.
These resources are in addition to the subsidies from local PIREPwhich in the province of Granada amounts to approximately 6,95 million euros. This funding is earmarked for projects promoted directly by local councils, such as the municipality of Cenes de la Vega, which has opted for transform the energy of your educational center reference.
CEIP El Zargal: a school as an example of energy transformation
One of the most representative actions of this deployment of funds in Granada is the rehabilitation of the CEIP El Zargalin Cenes de la Vega. The project has a total budget of approximately 658.000 Euros, of which just over 345.000 come from the state subsidy, which represents slightly more than 52% of the necessary investment.
The town's mayor, Montserrat Muñoz Sáez, has praised the support of the central government, highlighting that municipalities with limited resources Schools like theirs could hardly undertake projects of this magnitude without this funding. Thanks to the combination of PIREP funds and their own resources, the city council can carry out a comprehensive renovation to transform the school building into a much more efficient and sustainable facility.
The works, already underway, aim to transform the school into a space aligned with the decarbonization goalsTo achieve this, action is taken on both the energy systems and the building envelope, seeking to reduce energy demand, increase the use of renewables and improve the comfort of the educational community that uses it daily.
One of the key points of the intervention is the total elimination of diesel fuel as a source of energy for heating. Instead, a high-efficiency aerothermal system, which harnesses the energy of the outside air to heat the interior with lower consumption and fewer emissions than traditional fossil fuel boilers.
Along with the new air conditioning, the project includes the installation of 93 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the center. This solar plant will generate a significant portion of the electricity the building needs, reducing dependence on the grid and taking advantage of the area's solar radiation potential.
Insulation measures, green roof and water conservation
The energy modernization of CEIP El Zargal goes beyond simply changing the installations. Work will also be carried out on the thermal envelope of the building, reinforcing the roof insulation over an area of approximately 1.700 square meters. This improvement helps reduce heat loss in winter and overheating in summer, which directly impacts energy consumption and interior comfort.
In the roof areas not occupied by photovoltaic modules, a plant cover of about 1.000 square meters. It is a nature-based solution that provides multiple benefits: it retains some of the rainwater, helps improve air quality, helps lower the ambient temperature and promotes the thermal regulation of the building, as well as fostering biodiversity in an urban environment.
The project also includes a system of rainwater harvesting and reuseThe water from the sloping roof will be stored and later used for irrigation of both the new green roof and the school garden, thus closing a small cycle of water resource utilization within the educational center itself.
Taking all these actions into account, the technical forecasts point to a reduction of around 87,86% in the consumption of non-renewable primary energy Compared to the current situation, this also represents an estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 90,29%. These figures reflect a profound change in the building's energy model.
Beyond the data, the intervention aims to improve the quality of life for students, teachers, and other users of the school. Better insulation, more efficient climate control, and greater control of the indoor temperature translate into more comfortable and healthier spacesThis is especially relevant in an educational environment where many hours are spent each day.
PIREP objectives: efficiency, comfort and combating climate change
The Public Building Rehabilitation Promotion Program has been designed with a broad vision that goes beyond mere energy savings. Among its goals are: to contribute directly to the fight against climate changereducing emissions associated with the daily operation of public buildings in Spain.
At the same time, PIREP aims to solve structural deficiencies in habitability present in many buildings, such as poor acoustic comfort, poor indoor air quality, accessibility problems or outdated internal layouts that do not fit with new ways of working or current uses of spaces.
In practical terms, this translates into interventions that combine improvements in insulation, windows, air conditioning, ventilation and control systems, with functional actions aimed at reorganizing spaces, improving universal accessibility, or adapting buildings to more demanding regulations and standards.
In the case of Andalusia, the injection of 175 million euros represents an opportunity to move forward in a coordinated manner in the public park renovationat both the regional and local levels. Combining projects in provincial capitals and small municipalities allows the benefits of these policies to be extended to very different territories.
The administrations involved agree in highlighting that these works have a multiplier effectIn addition to reducing consumption and emissions, they improve the comfort of those who work in or use the buildings, boost the construction and installation sector, and help to incorporate cleaner and more efficient technologies to the day-to-day of public administration.
With actions such as those being carried out at the CEIP El Zargal school or in emblematic buildings in the city of Granada, the deployment of the 175 million allocated to energy efficiency improvements in Andalusian buildings It stands as an example of how well-directed European funds can translate into tangible improvements: less energy expenditure, fewer polluting emissions, more comfortable buildings, and a network of public facilities better prepared for the climate and social challenges of the coming decades.
