València moves towards a more resilient urban model

The Spanish city of València is committed to becoming a role model of sustainability. Of course, building renovation plays a key role in this challenge.

Josep Grau from Fundació València Clima i Energia — one of the 10 enablers of the Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR) — tells us about the initiatives the city is carrying out to advance building renovation.

How’s the state of the art of building renovation in València?

València is making strong progress in its commitment to tackling climate change and reducing energy dependence. A key line of action is the energy renovation of buildings, which is essential to cut emissions, improve efficiency, and provide greater comfort for residents.

The city promotes the refurbishment of homes through better thermal insulation, the modernisation of heating and cooling systems, and the installation of renewable energy sources such as solar panels. These improvements reduce energy consumption and help combat energy poverty, especially in vulnerable neighbourhoods.
This effort is part of broader strategies, such as València's participation in the EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030, and is supported by EU-funded programmes. Local initiatives, such as the Plan Rehabilita, offer financial aid and technical support to homeowners and housing communities seeking to renovate their buildings.

Through these initiatives, València is moving towards a greener, healthier, and more resilient urban model.

What’s the core purpose of the Fundació València Clima i Energia?

The Fundació València Clima i Energia (VCE) is a municipal foundation of the València City Council dedicated to driving the ecological transition and promoting climate action in the city.
The foundation's mission is to transform València into a resilient, sustainable, and equitable city capable of addressing the challenges of global warming. To achieve this, it focuses on the energy and climate challenge, striving to:

• Raise public awareness and provide education on climate change and energy transition.
• Promote citizen participation and collaboration with public and private entities.
• Effectively manage key facilities such as the Observatori del Canvi Climàtic and the Oficina de l’Energia.
• Attract European investments and coordinate transformative projects.

The Foundation is currently involved in several initiatives, ranging from the energy and community energy transition strategy to innovative renewable projects, educational programmes and academic collaboration.

Why are citizen-led renovation initiatives important?

Citizen-led renovation initiatives are very important for several reasons—not just environmentally, but socially and economically too.

First, they give people the chance to take the lead in improving their homes. Instead of waiting for solutions to come from the top, communities can organise, work together, and decide how to improve their buildings, save energy, and enhance their quality of life. These kinds of initiatives also help speed up building renovations, which is crucial to meet climate targets. Europe is made up of old and inefficient buildings. We can’t rely only on institutional projects; otherwise, progress will be too slow. Citizen-led renovation initiatives are also inclusive. They make it easier for everybody — especially those who struggle to access resources — to take part in the energy transition. It creates stronger, more connected communities. And of course, there are concrete benefits: lower energy bills, better comfort, healthier homes, and a big step forward in cutting carbon emissions.

What is VCE’s role in the Citizen-led Renovation (CLR) project?

València Clima i Energia plays a key role in the Supporting Citizen-Led Renovation Collectives (CLR) project in the city. Specifically, VCE will support at least three groups of property owners in collectively renovating their buildings or homes for improved energy efficiency. This involves:

• Assisting one or two homeowner communities, selected from users of the city's Energy Offices.
• Supporting one or two existing energy communities, already engaged through the Community Transition Office.

VCE collaborates with, among others, the Instituto Valenciano de la Edificación and the Colegio de Arquitectos de la Comunidad Valenciana to ensure the success of these initiatives.
VCE chose to join the project because it aligns with its mission of promoting a citizen-centred, sustainable energy system. The project empowers local communities to play an active role in the energy transition, enhances quality of life, and supports the goals of the European Green Deal.

Throughout the project, we strive to make citizen-led energy renovation a mainstream, reliable, and accessible practice in València. Additionally, we hope to strengthen collaboration among municipalities, experts, financial institutions, and residents, and leverage existing support structures to ensure long-term impact.

By participating, VCE aims to scale up energy renovation efforts and help create a replicable model for other European cities.

Discover more about why we need citizen-led renovation initiatives here!