Aid to SMEs’ EE projects for buildings, removal of asbestos and energy production from RES

Tuscany Region, by implementing the ERDF 2014-2020, issued 4 calls to incentivize enterprises’ investments in EE of buildings between 2014 and 2017.SMEs are different compared to big companies and public sector in implementing EE measures. For SMEs the cost of energy is often not very relevant compared to other costs connected to the core business and therefore SMEs do not take the economic opportunity to intervene to reduce energy consumption. If we want to promote the transition to a low-carbon economy for non-energy-intensive SMEs it is necessary to incentivize the design and implementation of EE measures, also to reduce the energy consumption in buildings within which the economic activity takes place, not only in the production process. The calls also financed the production of energy from renewable sources (thermal and electrical, and from cogeneration), combined with EE that remains the primary action. The health and safety of the workplace is improved, considering that the incentives are extended to the removal and disposal of asbestos. The actions of SMEs are incentivized through a non-repayable contribution. The main stakeholders involved are the Trade Category Associations who promoted tenders by carrying out initiatives and workshops throughout the region in cooperation with Tuscany Region who supported SMEs in preparing the documentation required by tenders. The beneficiaries of the practice are SMEs, of industry-crafts-cooperation-tourism-trade-services-culture