Cecilia Foronda, ECODES
‘No home without energy’ is the aim of ECODES, a Spanish NGO that recognises the importance of connecting everyone across the fuel poverty ecosystem – starting with those at home.
In Spain, 15% of households—some 7 million people—struggle to keep up with energy bills, whether trying to stay warm in winter or cool in summer.
ECODES has visited more than 2 000 homes to learn about their situations and to help lower energy consumption and reduce costs. A questionnaire on its website is available to anyone; after collecting social, household and energy contract data, it delivers personalised advice about how to take action.
Importantly, an interactive map lets site visitors connect to programmes designed to tackle fuel poverty in their own city or region. The system also creates stronger links among social agencies, health care professionals, energy efficiency advisors and others, meaning they can offer more holistic assistance to vulnerable households.
Cecilia Foronda, Sustainable Cities Manager of ECODES, is one of five winners among 15 finalists in the Social Innovation to Tackle Fuel Poverty Initiative, launched by the Schneider Electric Foundation, the Ashoka Foundation, and Enel Group. Check out her video interview to learn more.
