* Author: Borja Fernández Bilbao*
The Spanish Climate Change and Clean Energy Strategy defines the framework of action that the Spanish Public Administration should follow, to ensure our country’s compliance with the obligations laid out in the Kyoto Protocol, according to the provisions of RD 1370/2006, as approved by the 2008-2012 National Allocation Plan.
Therefore it is essential that Spanish companies make a greater effort, through the different mechanisms implemented by the Public Administration, to develop strategies for reducing the CO2 emissions from their processes and activities.
At the Iberdrola General Services Department, where I work, we are not an exception, and we are strongly committed to the development of energy-saving and energy-efficiency projects. We work within the corporate sustainability and efficiency policy to optimise the operations of the group’s buildings and strengthen the company’s image as a “green” brand.
The General Services Department makes a continuous effort to create energy-efficient facilities, through the aforementioned action plans implemented by the different Public Organisations.
In this specific case, in 2008, the Department took advantage of a support programme for strategic projects for investment in energy saving and efficiency: the E4+ 2008 – 2012 Action Plan, with the aim of seeking support for improving the company’s buildings in this area.
This programme’s objective was to reduce CO2 emissions through reducing the energy consumption of the companies’ activities. The IDAE contributed non-repayable financing for part of the strategic investment projects presented according to a Multi-year Strategic Plan (2009 – 2012).
Through this programme, the IDAE resolved the support allocation in 2009 for the programmes presented at the tender, allocating over €1,000,000 of aid to Iberdrola, or 30% of the investment in the company buildings for this purpose.
The group of projects that we worked on and recently completed at General Services, in compliance with the aforementioned programme, include actions in a diverse range of technical areas related to the buildings, such as interior and exterior lighting, air conditioning and insulation.
Apart from optimising the operations of installations, the following technologies chosen for developing these projects seek to benefit the environment: decreasing exterior light pollution, reducing noise pollution, minimising emissions and controlling waste generation.
The investments made have an average amortisation period of less than 3 years in the majority of cases, based on the reduction of electricity consumption.
