Agreement signed to create sustainable homes in vulnerable neighborhoods of Montevideo

With the project "Sustentabilizar hogares" (Weatherizing homes), the three organizations aim to improve the conditions of 100 homes in two neighborhoods of Montevideo through a social innovation initiative, to increase their energy efficiency, safety, and comfort while at the same time having a positive impact on health, and creating productive employment in the community.  

The signature of the agreement consolidates the institutional strategic alliance that will help start the sustainability activities of homes in two neighborhoods of Montevideo. The event included the participation of Enrique García, CAF's Executive President, Carolina Cosse, Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mining of Uruguay, and Nicolás Maggio, President of Weatherizers Without Borders.

"A sick house makes you sick" is the premise of this project that seeks to bring the successful methodology developed by the Department of Energy of the United States (DOE) to Uruguay through its "Weatherization Assistance Program" (WAP). This methodology consists of auditing the homes of low income families, identifying risks to security and health, as well as energy waste, to correct these problems through simple and cost efficient improvement works that lead to more sustainable homes. 

The multidimensional impact of the project is wide and leads to savings in the family budget, improvements in health, security, and comfort, generation of productive employment in the community, and the potential development of a green construction industry. With respect to the economic impact of these interventions, figures speak for themselves, as for each USD 1 spent in making home sustainable in the United States, the State saves USD 4 as a result of reducing energy subsidies and health care, according to the DOE. 

For Enrique Garcia, CAF's Executive President, this social innovation project contributes a novel solution to the housing problem, a longstanding social demand in the region He pointed out, "The improvement in the quality of life of families may reduce their vulnerability to fall in the traps of poverty while at the same time the reduction of the State's spending resulting from energy subsidy savings leads to resources that may be redirected to other areas of national interest".  

Carolina Cosse, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining of Uruguay, explained, "Generating experience through the implementation of pilot solutions for socio-economic vulnerable populations constitutes an essential practice that helps define and measure the impact of public policies that are being developed". 

During the past decade, Uruguay transformed its energy matrix through a national policy that pointed to the diversification of sources, with a strong incorporation of renewable sources, promotion of energy efficiency, and policies aimed at achieving an adequate access in safe conditions for all the population. 

Nicolás Maggio, President of Weatherizers Without Borders, indicated that there is a qualitative deficit in millions of homes in the region, and that there is a need to adopt a realistic conception to generate profound improvements in the habitat of the families that most need them. "Every house has the potential to be more sustainable. Specifically, this means that the house may provide more health and security, better quality of life, and help save resources with a better connection to the environment. The weatherization methodology makes a reliable diagnosis in existing homes to develop that potential with low cost and high impact interventions". 

Other State branches that will be linked to the project for the sustainability of homes are the Ministry of Housing, Territorial Zoning and Environment  (MVOTMA, for its acronym in Spanish), through its Neighborhood Improvement Program; the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES, for its acronym in Spanish) and its Program Uruguay Crece Contigo (Uruguay Grows With You); the Ministry of Public Health (MSP, for its acronym in Spanish); and the Administración Nacional de Usinas y Transmisiones (UTE, for its acronym in Spanish) (National Administration of Power Stations and Transmissions).