Iberdrola España refurbishes a building complex in A Coruña and reduces its heating needs by more than 75%

• The project includes the refurbishment of the façade, the installation of self-consumption and 200 kilowatts of aerothermal energy that will allow average savings of up to 50% compared to 2022 data.
• The company advances the aid to the 180 beneficiary families and the premises, and provides the remaining amount of the investment. In total, the action will involve a total of €8 million, 5 million of which will be subsidised. 

Iberdrola España is carrying out the comprehensive energy refurbishment of the Torre Efisa complex, made up of four buildings, in A Coruña, on the former site where the first Estrella Galicia factory was built. The project, recognised in the Galicia Energy Awards 2022, will benefit 181 homes and 72 premises, and includes the complete renovation and insulation of all the façades and roofs of the buildings, and the installation of self-consumption and aerothermal energy. 

The company has designed a customised 360º refurbishment solution to achieve greater comfort, savings and efficiency. Aware that the best energy for customers and for the planet is that which is not consumed, Iberdrola España's plan allows it to combine different energy sources to achieve a more efficient installation.  

Thus, by attending to its air-conditioning, electricity and domestic hot water networks, it has been possible to modernise the installation of the building, which dates back to the 1970s, and to reduce its energy consumption. 

Specifically, the rehabilitation of the façade, the installation of self-consumption solar panels and aerothermics together reduce the energy required for heating and hot water by more than 75%, which in turn eliminates 60% of fossil fuel consumption and reduces CO2 emissions by more than 90% annually. 

Similarly, according to estimates, and taking into account the data collected for 2022, a home with an average expenditure of 1,400 euros will have a consumption of 700 euros per year, representing a saving of up to 50%. 

The refurbishment plan developed by Iberdrola España offers a turnkey, all-inclusive service, which includes the management of the Next Generation subsidies and the advance of the amount granted to families and businesses, once they have been approved by the Administration. For the remaining amount, the company has provided the financing to the owners.

Specifically, the total amount of the composite rehabilitation will amount to €8 million, 5 million of which will be subsidised by the Next Generation grants. Thus, the average monthly amount per resident is €90 per month. 

Phased rehabilitation

Iberdrola España began the first phase of this initiative at the beginning of this year with the renovation of the building's air conditioning system, modernising it and making it more efficient. Specifically, two heat pumps have been installed that will provide 200kW of clean energy that will serve to electrify and modernise part of the installation with a general intervention in the heating distribution.

The meter rooms have also been modernised, the electrical installation has been completely refurbished to adapt it to the new electrical requirements and the hydraulic network for domestic hot water, cold water and heating has been refurbished, incorporating metering with individual remote metering.

In a second phase, scheduled for 2024, the building envelope will be improved and the energy demand of the building will be reduced. To this end, all the facades and roofs of the buildings that make up the complex will be completely renovated and insulated.

In addition, a 125-kW solar self-consumption system will be installed as an additional renewable source of electricity production. In total, the building will have 55 solar panels located on the roofs and 154 panels that will be integrated into the facades. 

The project was drafted and managed by the companies Seingenia Soluciones de Ingeniería (Installations Project) and Sitag Arquitectura (Envelope Project), and executed by Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos.