Vallbona leads on energy-efficient public buildings
Vallbona d’Anoia has completed energy efficiency upgrades at three municipal facilities: its school, nursery, and town offices. The town installed aerothermal heating and cooling systems at the school, integrating them with existing solar panels to reduce reliance on conventional energy. This initiative positions Vallbona ahead of a broader regional push. The Catalan government recently announced the Pla Actualitza Clima, a five-year effort to climate-proof all 2,530 public schools by 2031, backed by up to €2.5 billion in investment.
Funded by regional climate grants
The project cost nearly €170,000 and was co-financed by a climate action grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya under Resolution ACC/2831/2023 of 24 July, which allocated €35 million to local climate mitigation and adaptation projects for 2023–2025. The municipality covered part of the costs. The upgrades aim to improve thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and long-term energy sustainability in public buildings, aligning with Catalonia’s Climate Change Act (Law 16/2017). The Department of Education has identified that around 70% of school buildings were constructed before modern thermal regulations, making such retrofits critical.
These improvements ensure a healthier, more stable learning environment while cutting emissions and energy bills.
Local action ahead of regional rollout
While the Generalitat begins its phased work on about 100 schools this year, Vallbona’s early action demonstrates how municipalities can use available funding to act now. The town’s school, Escola Josep Masclans, now benefits from a renewable-powered climate system, reducing its carbon footprint and setting an example for other small towns. Residents and education officials in Vallbona say the upgrades will help students and staff cope with increasingly extreme temperatures, ensuring a more resilient public infrastructure.
Primary sources: govern.cat, canviclimatic.gencat.cat, documents.espai.educacio.gencat.cat, innovacio.xtec.gencat.cat, aplicacions.gestioeducativa.gencat.cat, icaen.gencat.cat, patrimoni.gencat.cat. Reported by infoanoia.cat, lavanguardia.com, seu-e.cat, agora.xtec.cat, foro-ciudad.com.
