Helping social organizations fighting energy poverty
The EDP Volunteer Program, in partnership with E-REDES, promotes the Pool of Electricians and Energy Efficiency Verifiers, an initiative for non-profit organizations, which aims to help combat energy poverty and promote more sustainable and energy-efficient lifestyles.
Volunteering in the fight against energy poverty
The Pool of Electricians and Energy Efficiency Verifiers is one of the volunteer projects promoted by EDP and is designed to support third sector organizations.
With the mission of improving the living conditions of communities at risk of exclusion or in a context of energy poverty, this grant's main objectives are: ensuring the electrical safety of facilities, solving breakdowns and performing small repairs, improving personal comfort and communities, and contributing to a reduction in the energy costs of organizations.
The project has two components:
1. A Pool of Electricians, whose mission is to perform the following services:
- Qualified electrical repair services, such as diagnostics on the electrical installations of Low Voltage customers;
- Small installation jobs, repairing and replacing conductors and manoeuvre and protection devices.
2. A Pool of Energy Efficiency Verifiers (VEE)
These professionals ensure the evaluation and presentation of proposals for energy efficiency measures.
Non-profit organizations with no convictions in the last two years on ethical, human rights or labor issues can benefit from the support of these volunteers by submitting their application.
Some of the initiatives already carried out
Between May and December 2022, with the support of the volunteers enrolled in the Exchange, actions were carried out in the following institutions, among many others, to meet their needs and to make their spaces more energy efficient, more comfortable and more welcoming.
1. Social Impactrip LDA
This association provides lodging for volunteers (international volunteer programs) and intervenes, by providing lodging, in social emergency situations (support to people forwarded by Social Security).
2. City of Lisbon Foundation
This Foundation and NGOD, with 33 years of existence, develops several projects within the scope of promoting social inclusion, interculturality, socio-educational development of children in vulnerable situations and education for global citizenship. The Foundation has a University Student Residence - Colégio Universitário de Cooperação Nuno Krus Abecasis.
3. Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada
It operates two old people's homes, two day centers, one social center, three nursery schools, three pre-schools, one residential home for young people, and provides home support services, social action services, among other projects.
4. CAIS - Social Solidarity Association
This non-profit entity provides support to homeless people.
5. ARESC - Association for Educational and Social Responses to the Community
This non-profit organization assures food support and has a Social Store, in the scope of which it provides legal and psychological support to the community where it is inserted.
6. Social Center and Santo André de Sobrado Parish
This day-care center and day-care center also provides home care services.
