The Energy Savings Certificate system originates from the European Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), which requires member states to implement mechanisms that promote energy savings in the residential and industrial sectors.

In Spain, this framework was transposed into national legislation through Royal Decree 36/2023, which created the National Energy Efficiency Obligation System. This system requires large energy retailers to demonstrate annually that they have contributed to the country's energy savings.

The idea is simple but powerful: companies that sell energy must offset part of their environmental impact by funding improvements in building energy efficiency. And that's where CAEs come in as an instrument for verifying and certifying these savings.

Since its implementation, the program has enabled the energy renovation of thousands of homes across Spain, significantly contributing to the country's decarbonization goals and reducing energy consumption in the residential sector.

CAEs work through an exchange mechanism that benefits all parties involved. Large energy retailers have a legal obligation to generate a specific volume of energy savings each year.

To meet this obligation, these companies fund energy renovation work in private homes. In the case of attic and loft insulation, the process is especially efficient because these areas are responsible for up to 30% of a home's heat loss.

When insulation work is carried out, a certificate is generated that accredits the energy savings achieved. This certificate is the CAE itself, and it has an economic value that covers the materials, labour, and management of the entire project.

The homeowner transfers the certificates generated by their renovation to the company that funded it. In return, they receive the insulation completely free of charge. It's a fair exchange: you get a more efficient and comfortable home, and the company meets its legal energy savings obligations.

Companies like Verdenomia act as specialized intermediaries, handling all the management: from eligibility verification to professional installation and certificate processing.

The CAE program is designed to be accessible to as many Spanish households as possible. Both homeowners and tenants (with the owner's authorization) can benefit, as long as the property meets certain basic technical requirements.

The main eligibility criteria are:

• Property type: detached houses, semi-detached houses, or flats with access to an uninhabited attic or loft.
• Insulation status: the attic floor must be uninsulated or insufficiently insulated (less than 100mm thickness).
• Age: the property must be more than 2 years old.
• Surface area: a minimum attic surface area is required for the work to be viable and generate sufficient certificates.

It doesn't matter if the property is your primary residence or a second home. There are no income restrictions either: the CAE program is not a social aid but a market mechanism that benefits all homeowners whose property meets the technical conditions.

The verification process is quick and simple: in less than 2 minutes you can check if your property is eligible through our online form.

Yes, it's 100% free. This is probably the most frequently asked question we receive, and the answer is unequivocal: the homeowner pays absolutely nothing for the insulation.

There are no hidden costs, no monthly fees, no lock-in period, and no future commitments of any kind. The only "exchange" that takes place is the transfer of the energy savings certificates generated by the work on your property.

These certificates have no value to you as an individual: they are technical documents that can only be used by energy companies to meet their legal obligations. You transfer them and, in return, receive a real and tangible improvement to your home.

Why does it work economically? Because the market value of CAEs is sufficient to cover all project costs: premium materials, specialized labour, travel, administrative management, and technical certification. Energy companies pay a fair price for each certificate because they need them to comply with the law.

It's a circular economy model where everyone wins: you improve your home, the energy company meets its obligations, and the environment benefits from reduced energy consumption.

It's common to confuse CAEs with public subsidies for energy renovation, but they are completely different mechanisms. Understanding these differences will help you see why CAEs are, in many cases, a more practical and faster option.

Traditional subsidies require applying for public aid, waiting for approval (which can take months), advancing the money for the work, and then receiving a partial reimbursement. Moreover, funds are limited and budget is not always available.

CAEs, on the other hand, work completely differently:

• No waiting: there's no need to wait for any public call for applications to be approved. The process starts immediately after verifying eligibility.
• No upfront payment: you don't pay anything at any point in the process. There are no reimbursements because there are no costs.
• No budget limit: CAEs don't depend on public funds but on the legal obligation of energy companies, so the program is continuous.
• Compatible: CAEs are compatible with other grants and subsidies, so you can benefit from both mechanisms if you wish.

In summary, while subsidies are a lengthy bureaucratic process with uncertain results, CAEs offer an immediate, complete, and financially risk-free solution for the homeowner.

Checking whether your property can benefit from the CAE program is very simple and will only take a couple of minutes. At Verdenomia, we've designed a quick and transparent verification process.

You just need to answer a few basic questions about your property: type of ownership, presence of an attic or loft, current insulation status, and age of the building. We don't ask for any bank details or commitment of any kind.

If your property meets the requirements, an advisor will contact you within 24 hours to schedule a free technical visit. During this visit, a professional will assess the specific conditions of your attic and propose the most suitable insulation solution.

After that, all you need to do is sign the CAE transfer contract and wait for our team of professional installers to complete the work, usually in just a few hours with no disruption. It's that simple.