South, 90 million ready for the energy transition of cultural venues

Green light for the energy efficiency of cultural sites in Southern Italy. The Ministry of Culture has earmarked EUR 89.8 million for 24 energy efficiency upgrades at museums, archaeological sites, libraries, and archives owned by the State and the Region of Sicily. The funding is part of the National Culture Programme 2021-2027, Action 2.1.1 and enables the energy transition of cultural buildings located in Campania, Apulia, Sardinia and Sicily, with a focus on reducing consumption and CO₂ emissions.

The beneficiaries of the largest funding are the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the Royal Site of Carditello, symbolic places of the national cultural heritage. In Pompeii, the interventions will affect structures and facilities, improving energy sustainability and conservation conditions. At the Royal Site of Carditello, in the municipality of San Tammaro, the project will enable structural and plant engineering work to be carried out to improve the energy efficiency of the Royal Delight, reinforcing its revitalisation and enhancement.

Other significant resources go to the Cittadella della Cultura in Bari, a strategic hub for regional cultural use; the State Archives in Lecce and Cagliari. In these cases too, the aim is to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings, improve facility management and guarantee more stable and safe environmental conditions for the preservation of the documentary heritage, to the benefit of both scholars and the public.

Overall, the funded interventions include building insulation, replacement of windows and doors, installation of heat pumps, LED lighting systems and digital solutions for intelligent energy management. The investment will allow an average reduction in emissions of more than 63%, equal to a total reduction of more than 2,900 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year, improving comfort for visitors and operators and enhancing the protection of the works and documents conserved.