Tenerife Island Council and Fundación Moeve launch a community network to combat energy poverty

• This initiative developed by Asmaer and Provivienda combined training sessions, technical advice, and home visits, in addition to providing energy-efficient appliances, to improve the quality of life for 97 vulnerable families in Tenerife

Through the Tenerife Isla Solidaria Program, Fundación Moeve and Tenerife Island Council held the closing ceremony of the latest “Zero Energy Poverty” campaign, an initiative launched by both organizations and implemented by Asmaer and Provivienda to improve energy efficiency and living conditions for socially vulnerable families on the island.

At the event, which was held at the Island Center for Volunteer Organizations, the campaign’s main results were presented, the work carried out by the participating nonprofit organizations was recognized, and the energy-efficient appliances linked to the project's activities were symbolically delivered to their new owners.

The initiative was carried out using a two-phase intervention model that brought together 13 social organizations and made it possible to reach 97 families in various municipalities across Tenerife through awareness-raising activities, training, and personalized energy-related support. The campaign has strengthened the organizations’ ability to identify situations of energy vulnerability and provide energy-saving tools and measures to families facing socioeconomic difficulties thanks to advice, home visits, and improvement measures tailored to each household.

During the event, Águeda Fumero, Councilor for Social Action, highlighted "the vital role of the nonprofit sector in reaching a large number of families and identifying situations of energy poverty through close contact and daily support," and also noted that the campaign "has helped create a collaborative network that strengthens the coordination and response capacity of organizations, government agencies, and social services on the island."

Belén Machado, head of Fundación Moeve in the Canary Islands, emphasized that "the energy transition only makes sense if it is accompanied by social justice and a real improvement in people’s quality of life, in addition to environmental benefits." In this regard, she placed particular emphasis on the importance of collaboration between government agencies, social organizations, and businesses, stressing that "when all stakeholders work together in coordination, it is possible to promote initiatives that generate a positive impact and directly reach the families who need it most." She also noted that "this campaign has brought to light and improved the often-overlooked situation of many vulnerable households in Tenerife."

Training and support to reduce energy vulnerability

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Island Council, Tenerife Isla Solidaria, Fundación Moeve, Provivienda, Asmaer, and 13 social organizations from the island (El Carmen se Mueve, Factoría Social, Signo de Vida Tenerife, Acción Social La Roca, ONG Canarias, Instituto Intercultural Canario - INCAN, Vida Con Salud, Cáritas Diocesana de Tenerife, ONG Sonrisas Canarias, Camaleón África, Raíces Compartidas, +Familia, and Fundación Canaria José Luis Montesinos), 39 information sessions on energy savings and efficiency were held for 97 families in various municipalities across Tenerife as part of the campaign.

Additionally, 23 households in 11 municipalities received personalized energy-related support, which included visiting homes, reviewing power contracts, analyzing energy consumption habits, and implementing measures aimed at improving the energy efficiency and livability of the homes.

Some of the most important measures included in the campaign were the distribution of 23 energy-efficiency kits, guidance on accessing the Social Electricity Subsidy, and the provision of 30 energy-efficient appliances to households with urgent needs. Additionally, the campaign trained 16 professionals and volunteers as "energy agents," strengthening social organizations' ability to identify and support individuals facing energy poverty with more personalized and ongoing assistance.

Continuation of the campaign

Looking ahead to the coming months, the organizations behind the campaign have expressed their commitment to continuing this line of work through new initiatives focused on sustainability and energy efficiency at the community level by further strengthening the support provided to vulnerable families, expanding home improvement projects, and continuing to train professionals and volunteers to build a local, specialized support network dedicated to addressing energy poverty.