Asbestos-free Solar Nursery

Direct:

• Reduction of costs by the institution: the decentralized production of electric energy using renewables, close to the place of consumption, allows avoiding distribution costs, making this option more competitive than the energy supplied by the network. In addition, the decrease in the company's dependence on the electricity grid makes it less vulnerable to price fluctuations and tax burdens. Thus, the cost reduction allows the institution to improve its services and facilities, impacting students, the elderly, and employees of the Association.
• Improving the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff: the removal of an asbestos roof (asbestos cement cover) at the Association has direct health benefits for all who attend it. The use of asbestos in buildings has been banned in the European Union since 2005 and its presence has been associated with cases of cancer and other lung diseases, due to the inhalation of its fibers. The removal of asbestos in buildings (roofs, fire doors, pipes, and cisterns) must be performed by technicians and specialized companies so that safety is guaranteed.

Indirect:

• Contribution to the decarbonization of the economy, avoiding CO2 emissions: with an estimated clean energy production of 60.8 MWh per year, the solar plant will avoid the emission of 12.3 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the planting of 561 trees.
• Promotion of education for sustainability: inclusion of sustainability themes in educational plans of the school daycare that could reach 51 students, 5 teachers and 11 employees.

Associação Centro Social do Sagrado Coração de Maria do Ferro (ACSSCMF) is a Private Institution of Social Solidarity whose commitment is to promote the quality of life and well-being of the elderly population and children, in the parish of Ferro, the interior of Portugal. The institution offers personalized care services and develops activities in the community aimed at social integration. It was founded in July 1989, in the town of Ferro, Covilhã, in the interior of Portugal.

Currently, it has about 300 members, 40 employees and provides support to 54 elderly people and 51 children through the following services:

Support for the Elderly

• Nursing Home: consisting of 14 single, double, and triple rooms, social rooms, nursing offices, physiotherapy, among others, and currently hosting 25 elderly people.
• Day Center providing care services to people and families who, due to illness, disability, or other impediments, cannot guarantee the satisfaction of their basic needs and/or daily activities, temporarily or permanently, currently supporting 15 people.
• Home Support services providing home care to people and families when, due to illness, disability, or other impediments, they are unable to ensure the satisfaction of their basic needs and/or daily activities temporarily or permanently, currently supporting 14 people,

Child support

• Nursery for 27 babies and children up to 3 years old.

• Pre-school for 24 children from 4 years old, before entering the 1st cycle.