Kyoto Fund: over 166 million euros for schools and public buildings
Created as part of the 2007 budget legislation, the Kyoto Fund provides subsidies for those who need to carry out work on specific types of public buildings in order to make them more energy efficient.
Its main objective is to facilitate the directives set out in the Protocol of the same name, playing a crucial role in the fight against global warming.
In 2022 alone, the money allocated to this rotating fund totalled approximately
166,267,343.90 Euros. This sizeable figure has helped many organisations to carry out energy requalification work on a wide range of buildings.
Even though the application deadline for this financial support expired last 31st December, it is still of interest to note the opportunities it offers for the current year.
Ways to access the Kyoto Fund
As mentioned above, the Kyoto Fund is aimed at public sector organisations who need to restructure and improve the energy efficiency of their premises. The list of buildings deemed eligible for such modernisation include:
- all school buildings, from nurseries to universities, including specialist art and music colleges;
- sports facilities not covered by the ‘Plan for the creation of sports facilities in suburban areas’ (article 15 of law decree no. 185, of 25th November 2015);
- hospitals and buildings used for social and health care.
The only procedure valid to obtain the funding, (up to a maximum of 2 million euros), is to present a formal application, using a specific app available on the ‘Deposits and Loans Fund’ website.
After completing the form, you must also attach the relevant documentation (as required by article 9 of inter-ministerial decree no. 65 of 11th February 2021). The application must be digitally signed by the applicant and sent via registered email to the addresses provided by the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Safety.
Which energy requalification work can be carried out?
By accessing the Kyoto Fund, public sector companies can receive a substantial state contribution for the energy requalification of buildings at a subsidised interest rate of 0.25%, for a maximum duration of 20 years (more than sufficient for the completion of bureaucratic procedures and the work itself).
- Anyone wishing to take advantage of this funding must focus on improving the energy class of the building in question by at least two categories. According to guidelines included in article 5 of 11th February 2021, interventions eligible for the scheme include:
- thermal insulation of opaque surfaces, surrounding heated areas;
- replacement of transparent windows/doors, including those around heated areas;
- installation of screens and/or blinds for transparent windows/doors facing east, southeast or west, whether fixed or moveable, but not transportable;
replacement of existing heating systems with equivalent systems using condensation boilers or heat pumps (electric or gas), powered by aerothermal, geothermal or hydrothermal energy;
- replacement of existing heating systems with systems fitted with heat generators that run on biomasses;
- installation of cogeneration or tri-generation systems;
- installation of solar energy heat collection devices, also combined with solar cooling;
- replacement of electric boilers with heat pump systems;
- requalification of lighting systems;
- installation of thermoregulatory and heat monitoring systems;
- installation of BACS automated systems for the control, regulation and management of technologies in the building and its heating systems, also combined with systems for monitoring energy performance.
The time window for applying for this funding in 2023 has not yet been announced, but the information listed above will allow those interested to start the procedure immediately once the application dates are announced.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
