Cascais Launches the Country's First Municipal Green Fund

Greater efficiency, lower costs, and a better environment. The Cascais City Council has launched Portugal’s first locally-developed Green Fund focused on the environment. This fund aims to provide financial support to local families for implementing energy efficiency and transition measures in their homes. Applications are now open.

“We proudly invest in People. This is another initiative that places Cascais at the forefront of efficient measures that improve the quality of life for our residents. With this €3 million investment, we aim to increase the comfort of our families’ homes. By providing upfront funding and covering 100% of costs for families in the first two Income tax brackets and 90% for those in the third and forth, I am confident we can especially reach those who need it most,” highlighted Nuno Piteira Lopes, Vice President of Cascais City Council.

Through the Cascais Green Fund, residents in up to the sixth IRS tax bracket, with their primary fiscal residence in the municipality, can request funding or subsidies for various upgrades. These include replacing inefficient windows or appliances, installing photovoltaic panels for self-consumption, acquiring solar thermal systems for water heating, among other eligible measures.

This fund, endowed with €3 million, not only reduces energy costs for families but also accelerates the municipality’s transition to a decarbonized future, fulfilling the commitments outlined in the Cascais 2050 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap.

More About the Cascais Green Fund for Families

This is the first public environmental fund to adopt an upfront transfer model (ex-ante) for those most in need, ensuring that the energy transition is accessible to all.

Available to individuals who are homeowners, co-owners, or tenants of permanent residences in Cascais, applications to the Green Fund for Families can be submitted in two ways, depending on the family’s income tax bracket, ensuring positive discrimination and a fair approach.

• Families in the first to fourth IRS brackets will benefit from the fund through agreements with Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), allowing for advanced co-financing, which is also higher and progressive for these cases.
• Families in the fifth and sixth brackets must apply through the Cascais City Council, submitting the required documentation via the available platform. In this case, funding will be provided through reimbursement.

The co-financing rates of the Cascais Green Fund for Families range from 50% to 100%, depending on the type of intervention and the beneficiary’s tax bracket, with a maximum of €10,000 per application.

The main objective is to support and drive the green transition while addressing energy poverty, contributing to a more sustainable municipality.

Learn more at www.cascais.pt