SHERPA stands for Shared knowledge for Energy Renovation in buildings by Public Administrations. This European project, promoted by the European Union under the INTERREG MED programme, has as its main objective strengthening the capacities of public administrations to promote the energy renovation of public buildings in the Mediterranean basin. To achieve this, the project provides tools, methodologies, and technical support to identify, plan, and finance energy efficiency interventions. SHERPA also fosters the training and capacity building of municipal technical staff to ensure advanced and sustained energy management.
The SHERPA project envisaged actions on one hundred public buildings managed by local governments in the Mediterranean region, of which it was expected that between 30% and 40% would be located in Catalonia. In addition, it aimed to train more than 160 professionals and establish a replicable management model based on four pillars: governance, information, training, and financing. Within this framework, an average reduction of 25% in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions was projected for the buildings, while also reinforcing the implementation of the municipal Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs).
The energy audit presented here was carried out within this context, as a specific action for 25 buildings of the Government of Catalonia, forming part of this European effort to advance towards a more efficient, coordinated, and sustainable energy transition.
The energy performance of each building was evaluated, and specific renovation measures were identified. First, as a basis for subsequent analysis, an updated and detailed inventory of the energy-consuming elements present in each building was conducted.
Next, in order to characterise the energy performance in more detail, the energy consumption and costs of each facility were assessed. For this purpose, data on electrical and thermal consumption (diesel, gas, etc.) were collected, and electricity consumption curves were analysed. This information provided an accurate picture of the overall energy use of each building and made it possible to identify inefficiencies.
Based on this diagnosis, Energy Renovation Measures (ERM) applicable to each building were defined and evaluated technically and economically. For each measure, a detailed financial assessment was made, including the main associated items such as components, execution costs, auxiliary means, and occupational risk prevention elements. The associated savings were also calculated, both in energy and economic terms, as well as the percentage reduction expected from its implementation.
In addition, a financial report was prepared for each ERM, including the planned investment cost, estimated energy savings, and payback period. An execution schedule was also developed to facilitate temporal planning.
Finally, the Energy Renovation Measure Documents of the Building were completed for each of the 25 buildings analysed. These documents include both the technical and economic aspects of each intervention, with the aim of ensuring their international projection and compatibility with European funding programmes.
In the healthcare sector, the following facilities were audited: CAP Manso (Barcelona), CAP Sant Pere (Reus), CAP Martorell, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, and the Centre Corporatiu de l’Institut Català de la Salut (ICS).
In the prison sector: Centre Penitenciari Ponent, Centre Penitenciari 4 Camins, and Centre Penitenciari Brians I.
In the justice sector: Palau de Justícia de Catalunya, Jutjats de Sabadell, and Jutjats de Gavà.
In the education sector: Institut Duc de Montblanc, Institut Martí Franquès, Institut Priorat, Institut Badia, Centre d’Ocupació de Gandesa, and Escola Agrària Forestal Casa Xifra.
In terms of residences: Residència Can Ruti, Residència Barcelona – Gràcia, Residència Montblanc, and Residència Mossèn Homs.
Finally, other public facilities included: Centre de Restauració de Béns Mobles de Catalunya (CRBMC), Museu Nacional de la Ciència i la Tècnica de Catalunya (MNATEC), Parc de Bombers de Calaf, and Comissaria de les Corts.
At Quatre Camins, for example, the proposed measures would reduce energy expenditure by up to €142,700 per year. This figure is achieved thanks to key actions such as the installation of photovoltaic panels, replacement of lighting with LED technology, and replacement of gas boilers with biomass systems or high-efficiency condensing boilers.
At the Ponent Penitentiary Centre, projected savings reach €143,522 per year, through a comprehensive strategy that includes its own photovoltaic installation, boiler renovation, improvements in air conditioning, and the incorporation of intelligent control systems for energy management.
Other concrete measures carried out in the various buildings include: the replacement of luminaires with high-efficiency LED technology, the installation of photovoltaic and solar thermal plants for self-generation, and the replacement of obsolete thermal systems with heat pumps or condensing boilers. Improvements to the building envelope were also proposed, with solutions such as thermal break glazing or solar control films. Together, these strategically designed measures allow for significant savings in both economic and annual energy consumption terms.
