Cascais’ Just Energy Transition Fund for Families provides financial support, technical assistance, and community engagement to help low- and middle-income households reduce energy costs, improve comfort, and adopt sustainable energy solutions.
RISING ENERGY COSTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLDS
Rising energy costs are placing increasing pressure on household budgets, compromising quality of life and deepening energy poverty. External factors, such as international conflicts and energy market volatility, have driven up utility bills, reducing disposable income and creating barriers to achieving energy-efficient living—particularly for low- and middle-income families.
A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION FUND FOR FAMILIES
Cascais is the first municipality in Portugal to launch a Just Energy Transition Fund for Families, an innovative initiative addressing these challenges by combining financial support, technical assistance, and community engagement to promote economic stability, social equity, and environmental sustainability. The Fund helps residents reduce energy bills, improve thermal comfort, and adopt sustainable practices through advanced financing mechanisms. Eligible interventions include replacing inefficient windows, doors, pavements, and appliances, as well as installing photovoltaic systems or other renewable solutions for self-consumption.
PARTICIPATORY CLIMATE GOVERNANCE
To ensure accessibility, the Fund is supported by a network of digital and physical Energy Spaces, offering tailored guidance to applicants and enhancing community energy literacy. By making sustainability accessible to all, the Fund fosters participatory climate governance—empowering citizens to become active contributors to Cascais’ carbon neutrality goals—while serving as a replicable model for other municipalities committed to a just and inclusive energy transition.
