When your home becomes energy efficient, you are not only saving more money on your home bills, you can also reduce your home's carbon dioxide emissions, as you will need less electricity to keep running the same functions, such as keeping your home comfortable and warm.

If you are thinking of carrying out this kind of work on your property, DECO Algarve suggests you check out the second edition of the “Support Programme for More Sustainable Buildings”, and make sure that you meet the conditions to request this support, which will reimburse part of the expenses you have with the works.

According to the association, expenses made from 7 September 2020 may benefit from this support, but DECO advises you to carefully check out all the requirements and criteria for each type of measure to make sure that you meet all the conditions.

For example, in the specific case of window replacements, the support is limited to a reimbursement rate of 85 percent up to a limit of €1,500 when replacing non-efficient windows with efficient installations with an energy class equal or higher than “A+”. In addition, you would have to prove that you own the property, which means that support does not apply to those who are renting.

According to Deco Algarve, the expenses that can benefit from this support are:

  • Replacement of non-efficient windows with efficient windows, with an energy class equal to “A+”;
  • Placement or replacement of thermal insulation in roofs, walls or floors, using natural-based materials (ecomaterials) or with recycled materials, as well as the replacement of roofs, floors, walls and front doors;
  • Heating and/or cooling systems and/or domestic hot water (DHW), which use renewable energy, energy class “A+” or higher, namely: heat pumps, solar thermal systems, boilers and biomass stoves with high efficiency;
  • Installation of photovoltaic panels and other renewable energy production equipment for self-consumption with or without storage;
  • Works aimed at water efficiency through: Replacement of water use devices in the property with more efficient ones or installation of solutions that allow intelligent monitoring and control of water consumption and installation of rainwater use systems;
  • Installation of bioclimatic architecture, which is a way of designing buildings based on the local climate, involving the installation or adaptation of fixed elements.

Another project that DECO has in this regard is the Efficiency Voucher programme, aimed at people who benefit from the social electricity tariff, please find out more here: https://deco.pt/energia/candidaturas-abertas-para-programa-vale-eficiencia-quer-saber-como-pode-beneficiar-nos-ajudamos/

For further questions, please have a look at https://deco.pt/deco-consigo/#energia or contact directly DECO’s Energy Advice Office (GAE), calling 213710224 or emailing energy @deco.pt.

You can schedule a free of charge appointment in person or by phone, with DECO Energy Advisor Office (a project activity – STEP (Solutions to Combat Energy Poverty) funded by the EU's H2020 programme.

Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins