Energy savings in public buildings was funding by instrument for promoting energy efficiency in the public sector of the Canary Islands.

The aim is to promote reduction on energy consumption in the public sector buildings.

Evidence of success (results achieved):

  • Reductions in electricity consumption in public buildings where actions have been implemented.
  • Creation of jobs in installation and maintenance of the RES and energy savings equipment

Evidence of success (results achieved):

  • Reductions in electricity consumption in public buildings where actions have been implemented.
  • Creation of jobs in installation and maintenance of the RES and energy savings equipment

The policy for the promotion of energy efficiency in public buildings includes exemplary actions in this area by public administrations and promotion of energy services companies.

The purpose of the public-private contract is to carry out a global and integrated action involving the improvement of energy efficiency and the provision of energy services in several administrative buildings of the Government of the Canary Islands, as well as the performance of predictive, corrective and technical-legal maintenance of the following facilities: transformer station; low voltage electrical installation; generator set;  uninterrupted power supply system; air conditioning and air treatment installation; other not explicitly mentioned where the awarded company intervenes.

The winning companies commit themselves to carry out work to improve and renew the energy consuming installations and to execute investments in energy savings and renewable energies related to air conditioning, lighting, photovoltaic installations, and the centralized management system of consumptions.

Both the investments made and the percentage of energy savings obtained with them vary depending on the characteristics and age of each of the buildings subject to contract, although in all the facilities the percentage of savings committed in each of the buildings has been exceeded.

The improvement of global performance of energy in the public buildings implies the adoption of a series of actions in different areas. The technical complexity derived from all these actions, the constant technological innovations and the different ways of combining them, require the collaboration of the private sector, with specialized and experienced companies in this type of actions, for determining the optimal options.

A tender procedure was opened to select the most cost competitive applications that met the minimum requirements of the descriptive document. The ESCO Contract is monitored annually.  For buildings in Gran Canaria, the contractor undertook to reduce electricity consumption by 32.1% annually. The results to date reflect that the energy savings actually obtained have been:

  • Year 2016: 42.4%.
  • Year 2017: 47.21%

For buildings in Tenerife, the contractor undertook to reduce the consumption of electricity by 21.71% annually. The results to date reflect that the energy savings actually obtained have been:

  • Year 2016: 26.11%.
  • Year 2017: 34.28%

Collaboration between the public and private sector for a global and integrated action that involves the improvement of energy efficiency in several administrative buildings belonging to the Regional Government of the Canary Islands. Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) were granted subventions to installed energy savings solutions in public buildings.

  • Duration of ESCOs contracts: 15 years
  • Public buildings in Tenerife and Gran Canaria:
    • Buildings in Tenerife, for a total amount of 10,212,465 €
    • Buildings in Gran Canaria  for a total amount of 17,246,084 €

Time on the administrative process of the Regional Government to award public contracts for ESCO to installed energy efficiency solutions in buildings.

There is a potential market for implementing energy efficiency solutions in all public buildings in the Canary Islands, for companies to develop a profitable economic activity that could generate jobs for young residents in tasks related to installation and maintenance.

With adequate training, young unemployed can gain a job opportunity associated to the program of promoting energy efficiency solutions in public buildings, and from there offer similar services in the residential sector and the thriving tourist industry.