The policy of amnesty

Is there anyone who doesn't believe in the climate crisis? Look at how much insurance has reimbursed in recent years. Home insurance policies by 25%, precisely because of extreme events. Before the elections, Europe with 370 votes in favor, 199 against, 46 abstentions definitively approved the "green homes" directive. Against Italy (the government parties) and Hungary. Let's try to reason with realism. Within two years, member countries will have to implement the directive, issue laws and measures capable of promoting building redevelopment. According to the Bank of Italy, Italy has the oldest building heritage in Europe: out of approximately 36 million residential buildings, approximately 9 million have poor "energy performance". 80% would need energy requalification interventions: in order to go from the current F or G level to one or two higher. 2.15 million buildings were built before 1919; 1.38 million between 1920 and 1945; 1.66 million buildings between 1946 and 1960; 1.97 million in the 1960s; 1.98 million in the 1970s. A full 41% of all these buildings were built by professionals such as site managers and master builders and are often characterized by illegal construction and poor quality of construction and materials. This is a serious problem, especially in highly seismic areas. Another important fact: 70% of the population lives in buildings built before 1980.

The issue of the superbonus (110% and facades, but also ecobonus, sismabonus and other building credits) is quite controversial. However, some elements can be highlighted objectively: the idea was good, but the application was terrible, without implementing decrees capable of avoiding perverse interpretations and incorrect applications (with clear responsibilities of politicians and ministry managers); terrible controls; too much speculation on materials and improvisation of companies without professionalism.

It is worth sharing some other data on the topic: from September 2021 to March 2024, 500 thousand buildings were affected (for over 110 billion euros), specifically 94 thousand condominiums and 240 thousand single-family buildings. Now with the latest provision, the retroactive forms have further reduced confidence in the State, have slowed down work without proposing medium-term alternatives, have demoralized the sector and those who want to invest. The entire affair demonstrates the importance of having a national restructuring plan for the building sector capable of activating fair (and not miraculous) incentives for widespread private choices. We need to apply a reasonable system of choices that avoid any distortions. It could be useful to at least give priority to the nine million buildings with the lowest energy class.

A first rough calculation brings a commitment of current resources in the real estate portfolio of approximately 120/150 million per year of investments until 2035. All this to define sustainable and - at the same time - incentivizing reimbursement percentages. The current political class is too anchored to yesterday and today and struggles to think about tomorrow. Yet, citizens (especially those who live in condominiums) now know well that they live better and save money in homes with energy efficiency interventions and adapted to the new climate conditions. Without ignoring the economic difficulties of families. Ad hoc financial instruments should be studied, guarantee funds, mortgages, incentives, tax deductions and discounts on invoices, but diversified according to the types and incomes.

A gradual and realistic, but decisive intervention, with intermediate objectives, which combine three aspects: combating climate change, energy saving, work (safely!) in the construction sector (with greater professional qualification of private companies). Europe has not yet provided dedicated allocations. However, to support investments, each State can immediately draw on the European funds dedicated to European Cohesion (until 2027 Italy will have 78 billion (!) available for programs for the green transition); the Social Fund for the climate (for all countries 65 billion from 2026 to 2032); the Recovery Fund, the Regional Development Funds for the reduction of territorial gaps. And then there is the financing of the EIB which invests 45 billion euros added to accompany the objectives of RepowerEu. Unfortunately, "How to access these funds?" is not a topic that appeared in the European election campaign. Better irrelevant polemics or explain that the solution in construction is to condone.


Carlo Degiacomi
NP June / July 2024