La Energy efficiency has become a central issue This affects both households and public administrations. With electricity and gas bills once again subject to the 21% VAT and rising temperatures, citizens are increasingly feeling the strain of energy consumption. At the same time, the European Union has implemented a series of regulations that will require the renovation of older, less efficient housing stock, while the funds allocated for this purpose are being closely scrutinized by regulatory bodies.
In this context, 93% of Spaniards already perceive a direct relationship The difference between home energy efficiency and monthly utility bills is significant, according to the UCI's 4th Observatory on Housing and Sustainability. And that's not all: seven out of ten citizens, and almost nine out of ten young people, would be willing to pay more for a home that consumes less energy. On average, this additional cost reaches 8,5%, which in a typical home represents nearly €19.000 extra. Energy efficiency is no longer just an extra; it's becoming a key factor in both savings and comfort.
The new European directive steps on the gas
The European Union has approved a revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) that It marks a roadmap with no return.The goal is for all buildings to be climate-neutral in the long term, and to achieve this, progressive obligations are being established. Member States must first focus on the homes with the worst energy ratings (F and G), which are the oldest and consume the most energy. In practice, this will translate into renovations such as the Thermal insulation with rock wool, changing windows or replacing heating systems with heat pumps or aerothermal systems.
The regulations also reinforces the role of the energy certificateThis will be a determining factor in both sales and rentals. In fact, the certificate will serve to identify which homes require priority renovation and which already meet the new standards. Although implementation will not be immediate, the European timetable sets the first targets around 2030, with increasingly stringent requirements in subsequent years. The Bank of Spain has already warned that energy efficiency significantly influences the market value and financing capacity of properties.
Spaniards already value efficiency in their homes
Despite growing awareness, Only four out of ten Spaniards know the energy certificate of their homeAccording to the same UCI study, this lack of information is more pronounced in older homes, where the certificate is perceived as a mere administrative formality. However, those who have recently bought or rented are much more familiar with this indicator, reflecting the growing importance of energy efficiency in the real estate market in recent years.
The Spanish residential park It suffers from a serious aging problem.59% of the population lives in homes built between 1950 and 2000, with energy standards far lower than today's. This makes renovation a key tool for reducing consumption and improving comfort, allowing the use of materials such as... XPS to improve energy efficiencyLorena Zenklussen, Director of Mortgage Financing at UCI, points out that “energy efficiency has become an issue closely linked to household finances. People are increasingly aware that an efficient home allows them to reduce consumption, control spending, and improve comfort.”
European funds under scrutiny: are they being used properly?
While the EU sets ambitious targets, the European Court of Auditors has focused on how the €43.000 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) earmarked for improving the energy efficiency of homes is being spent. In a recent report, the auditors warn that Most of the funds have been allocated to quick reforms of medium or low complexity, instead of deep renovations that can generate savings of more than 60%.
The watchdog maintains that neither the European Commission nor the Member States have sufficient mechanisms to verify the profitability of these investments or to reliably measure actual savings. Of the 111 measures analyzed, only three incorporated objectives directly linked to energy savings; most measured progress by the number of homes renovated or the area renovated. Furthermore, the energy efficiency certificates used to estimate savings reflect theoretical consumption figures that may differ from actual consumption and contain errors that overestimate or underestimate the results.
In light of these findings, the Court recommends directing future aid towards comprehensive renovations, setting targets linked to energy savings, and improving the measurement methodology. Brussels, for its part, argues that the Reduction and Reduction Mechanism (RRM) did not require funding for complete renovations and that many Member States opted for actions that reached a larger number of homes to accelerate implementation. The European Commission partially accepts the recommendations to strengthen monitoring in the next European budget, although it rejects the criticism of the certificates, which it considers a “robust” tool for estimating savings.
Regional aid as an example of application
While the major European figures are being finalized, the autonomous communities are already taking action. La Rioja, for example, has authorized spending over €5 million to subsidize energy efficiency measures in SMEs, large industrial companies, and buildings in the service sector. The aid, co-financed by the National Energy Efficiency Fund, covers everything from equipment and process improvements to the renovation of building envelopes and lighting systems. The subsidies range from 17,5% to 55%, with a limit of €750.000 per beneficiary.
In the Valencian Community, the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) has launched a €2,5 million funding program for projects that reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The grants can cover up to 35% of eligible costs, with increases of up to 20 percentage points for small businesses. Eligible actions include replacing equipment with high-efficiency alternatives, recovering waste heat, and implementing [other measures/systems]. energy management systems in companies and the improvement of lighting and climate control. These initiatives demonstrate that Energy efficiency is no longer a promise for the future, but a reality that is being built from the local level., with European and regional funds that seek to modernize the building stock and reduce the energy bill of homes and businesses.
The combination of increasingly stringent European regulations, a more aware public willing to pay for energy-efficient homes, and the implementation of specific government subsidies paints a picture in which energy-efficient renovations are poised to be one of the major transformations in the real estate sector in the coming years. However, regulatory bodies emphasize that simply spending money is not enough: it must be done wisely, prioritizing renovations that truly save energy and rigorously measuring the results. Only in this way can ambitious climate goals be met and, at the same time, ease the financial burden on citizens.
