The Valencia Energy Office
About this good practice
Five years ago, Valencia launched its Municipal Energy Office, our One-stop-shop to support citizens in the energy transition. Born from the València Climate and Energy Foundation, the Office was established to move from theory to practice in addressing climate issues and implementing energy policies in each neighbourhood.
The Energy Office is a free, public service offering personalized advice and activities on energy. Its services cater to all citizens, from those struggling to pay their bills to early adopters of the energy transition. The Office operates around five key action areas: explaining energy bills, guaranteeing the right to energy, promoting energy savings, boosting renewable energies, and fostering a culture of energy transition.
Workshops are held regularly, providing step-by-step guidance on the energy transition. They include sessions on energy access for vulnerable individuals, reducing energy costs, home energy efficiency, and self-producing renewable energy. Activities focusing on the promotion of sufficiency and low technology are also starting to be developed.
Additionally, the Office supports energy efficiency initiatives in schools and has facilitated the creation of the first energy communities in the city. A monthly bulletin shares energy-saving tips, project updates, and local energy policy news.
Today, the Energy Office is a key municipal service in Valencia, central to its 2024 EU Green Capital Award and climate neutrality strategy for 2030.
Resources needed
The interdisciplinary Office team consists of over 14 people, mostly women. A 100% electric vehicle and tent are available for the mobile service. The Office is fully funded by Valencia City Council (600,000 € per year), and funding by EU projects supports service improvement.
Evidence of success
The Energy Office has advised over 44,000 people and held more than 500 workshops.
Its users save an average of €200 and 150 kWh per year, with vulnerable individuals saving up to €400. Collectively, energy-saving efforts exceed 800,000 kWh/year. Solar panel users represent 900 kW of capacity, producing 1,436,000 kWh/year and reducing CO2 by 220,000 kg/year. The #MySchoolInTransition program involves 20 schools and 4,800 people, saving up to 12,500 kWh and 3,391 kgCO2 per year per school.
Potential for learning or transfer
The case of the energy offices in Valencia is highly replicable and necessary. In 2019, the first office was opened, and in 2023, two additional fixed offices were launched, strategically located to reach the target population. Additionally, a mobile office was introduced to bring services to different areas, including nearby villages.
To ensure replicability and continuous improvement, various evaluation mechanisms have been implemented. For instance, satisfaction surveys have given an average score of 4.8/5 for workshops and 100% of respondents would recommend the service to friends or family.
There is ongoing exploration to expand the office network to the provincial level, and inquiries have been received from other European cities interested in replicating the model. Moreover, the project has attracted funding from European initiatives such as several H2020/Interreg projects which contribute to improving and sharing best practices with over 20 partners from 10 EU member states.
Further information
What is the Valencia Energy Office? (Video in Spanish)
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Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Valencia Climate and Energy Foundation