This was stated by Dinis Rodrigues, senior energy expert at the European Investment Bank (EIB), for whom ‘renovation not only means energy savings, but also a complete transformation of the home and the rural environment’. In the case of Navarre, he also pointed out that success ‘has been possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of the Nasuvinsa team, which has accompanied the owners throughout the renovation process’. Rodrigues’ statements were made during the Biziberri Navarra Rehabilita forum, a key event in the field of urban refurbishment and energy efficiency in the region.
At the same meeting, the Third Vice-President and Regional Minister for Housing, Youth and Migration Policies of the Government of Navarre, Begoña Alfaro, pointed out that Navarre is ‘the benchmark community at a national level in terms of housing rehabilitation, not only for the quality of this rehabilitation, but also for the good management of the funds dedicated to this task’.
He also pointed out that ‘Navarre is a benchmark community in terms of housing in general, with innovative public policies and lines of work that will undoubtedly favour access to decent housing for an increasing number of people’.
‘We understand refurbishment as an exercise that must be carried out in an efficient and sustainable way, and that allows us to increase the number of decent and accessible homes in our community,’ he added. All of this is just a sign that Navarre is a community that is clearly committed to sustainability, the transformation of the urban environment and public housing, with projects that not only improve energy efficiency, but also create more liveable and resilient communities.
For his part, the managing director of Nasuvinsa, Javier Burón, pointed out that ‘the key to success in housing refurbishment lies in the collaboration between administrations and citizens, ensuring that the processes are accessible and effective for everyone’.
The event also served to learn about different models of urban regeneration that were being applied in other territories, as part of an exhibition of good practices. Michael Donaldson (BIT Habitat – Barcelona City Council), Mauricio Paolino (Electric Ireland Superhomes) and Uxua Domblás (Pamplona City Council) shared their experiences on the industrialisation of regeneration and green office networks.
Michael Donaldson emphasised the importance of innovation in urban regeneration: ‘We need to learn from international experiences and adapt them to our context to optimise the regeneration process. In Barcelona, we are exploring innovative solutions in an industrialised kit format to improve the habitability of residential buildings and increase access to affordable housing.
Mauricio Paolino said that ‘energy retrofitting was key to transforming homes into warmer, healthier and low-carbon spaces’. And he underlined: ‘In Ireland, we are working on a comprehensive strategy to improve energy efficiency in 500,000 homes by 2030, with the installation of 400,000 heat pumps’.
Finally, Uxua Domblás, Director of Strategic Governance, Urban Planning, Housing and Agenda 2030 of Pamplona City Council, highlighted the importance of the Green Offices Network as a key tool in the municipal energy transition. ‘The Green Offices are a reference point for advising citizens on energy efficiency, renewable energies and sustainable rehabilitation. Through these spaces, we provide accessible information and support residents in making decisions to improve the sustainability of their homes,’ he said.
Source: Navarra Capital