Naturgy Foundation focuses on the reconstruction of the areas affected by DANA
On October 29, 2024, time stopped in Valencia. DANA caused unprecedented damage and the first days were key so that all of Spain would turn to help, both with donations and with thousands of volunteers who went to ground zero. Those images of the people saving the people shocked the world and will always be remembered.
Now, After that initial urgent response and a year later, Help is still needed in affected areas. Naturgy Foundation has launched the plan adding Energies for Valenciaan action initiative that will benefit more than 40,000 people affected.
“Adding Energy for Valencia “It is a plan made up of short and medium-term actions, but with a vision of the future to support people, promote education, create job opportunities and work on the recovery of the territory with initiatives and solutions that last over time,” he explains. María Eugenia Coronado, general director of the Foundation Naturgy.
Support for people
adding Energies for Valencia not only seeks to participate in the repair of material damage, but also in improve the quality of life of those who need it most. To achieve this, collaboration with social entities that work in the territory through initiatives that combine sustainability, energy efficiency and savings is key.
In the area of people, the plan focuses on different actions, such as rehabilitation of homes and small businesses to improve thermal comfort and energy efficiency, thus reducing the cost of consumption. Interventions include insulation of doors, windows, walls and ceilings; repair or replacement of carpentry, blinds or awnings; air conditioning and ventilation systems; renovation of appliances; and electrical or gas installations.
Until now 40 homes have been rehabilitated, there are 120 in progress and the goal is to rehabilitate 600 homes in 2026. “Help of this type in my house changed everything. From not having anything to having, for example, a refrigerator, it is a very big relief,” says Enrique Peña, a neighbor affected by DANA in Paiporta.
Likewise, through its Energy School, the Naturgy Foundation organizes training workshops to achieve better use and management of energy in the home Aimed at families and professionals from city councils and social services. In addition, they promote volunteer actions. It is not just about returning to the situation before DANA but, in this reconstruction, it is about going to a better solution and looking to the future, with a higher degree of energy efficiency.
A differential quality of the Foundation is its collaboration with social entities, since they are the ones who accompany and know the most vulnerable families. For this reason, within the framework of this initiative, Fundación Naturgy launched a call for aid for the energy rehabilitation of its premises, with which seven entities are energetically rehabilitated. In addition, the project to donate and install solar panels for care centers for people in vulnerable situations is expanded, thus guaranteeing a clean and economical supply, bringing renewable energy also to the most vulnerable.
Promotion of education
In the area of education, Fundación Naturgy has divided its intervention into two levels. On the one hand, the installation and commissioning of photovoltaic panels in 40 primary schools affected by floods. This will generate energy savings that will allow more resources to be allocated to cover educational, emotional and community needs.
Likewise, in these centers, pedagogical energy audits through the Efigy Schools educational network, to contribute to the development of quality, inclusive and environmentally conscious education. These are conceived as a transversal educational tool aimed at involving teachers, students and their families in understanding energy consumption and promoting responsible habits.
On the other hand, Fundación Naturgy develops educational projects in around 130 educational centers in 38 affected municipalities. The objective is to implement a comprehensive pedagogical program on energy and environmental matters that encourages inclusion and promotes STEAM vocations. It is carried out through workshops, resources and experiences that bring science and technology closer to young people, and convert energy and sustainability into motivating learning for thousands of students.
Job creation
Regarding employment, this line of action aims to improve the employability of residents through a program of training in green professions with a future and official certifications in key sectors for the energy transition.
“After DANA, employment has been greatly affected, and There is a great need for requalification of professions to this new reality. For this reason, we will not only train people, but we will accompany them in a process that allows them to carry out their internships in the initiatives linked to this Plan,” says Coronado.
To do this, they promote theoretical-practical training programs aimed at people who are unemployed, vulnerable or young people seeking to improve their access to the labor market. These training courses respond to the demand for qualified profiles in the energy and sustainable construction sector. They are developed in collaboration with reference entities, have career guidance and allow obtaining official certification, thus improving the employability of the participants.
These formations, oriented to energy efficiency and green employment, They include home rehabilitation courses to improve their efficiency and energy savings. The foundation also promotes job placement in key sectors for the energy transition and teaches courses in digitalization of gas networks and basic operations with official Sedigas certification, such as changing meters, inspections and tests.
All of this is articulated in alliance with social entities, public administrations and companies in the territory. These courses are carried out in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, in training areas such as the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems, the energy rehabilitation of buildings or the digitalization of gas networks.
Resilience and looking to the future
Finally, together with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Fundación Naturgy is addressing studies to promote reflection and debate on aspects that, as a result of the emergency, require analysis, such as the importance of the resilience of energy infrastructure and waste management after extreme phenomena in order to build a more prepared and sustainable territory.
In this area, they have begun to carry out environmental volunteer days in which cleaning, plant recovery and waste removal are combined. These actions seek to generate a positive impact by raising awareness among citizens, reinforcing the link with the territory and promoting a transformative experience on a social, emotional and environmental level.
Adding Energy for Valencia It is a plan that the Naturgy Foundation has already launched and that will continue until the end of 2026 with the aim of leaving a positive and lasting mark in the Valencian Community focused on the opportunities, the future and hope.
