Ciarán Cuffe MEP has welcomed the launch of an EU-funded pilot project that will provide a support service to citizen-led renovation initiatives across the European Union. The project will focus on helping energy communities to support citizens in the uptake of residential renovations with a focus on residential buildings, in collaboration with expert services such as One-Stop-Shops. It was first proposed by twelve MEPs in 2020, including the rapporteur of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Ciarán Cuffe. The European Commission awarded the tender to a consortium led by Belgian engineering consultancy Th!nkE.be. It will be financed by the European Commission to the tune of €2 million over a two-year period.

MEP Cuffe said: “One-Stop-Shops are an essential part of ensuring the future success of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Local communities are often faced with a lot of red tape and knowledge gaps when it comes to renovations. One-Stop-Shops will help to make this process as easy as possible for people who want to upgrade their homes. This pilot project will empower these services and local communities with the necessary knowledge to pool their resources and create warmer and more energy efficient homes that will bring down energy bills, while contributing to the energy transition.

”Citizen-led renovations happen when groups of people come together to pool their resources and invest in measures to improve the energy performance of their buildings. Such collectives are known as ‘energy communities’. These communities are first and foremost helpful forums for information exchange and for overcoming the red tape associated with renovation projects. However, they can also facilitate joint investments in shared renewable energy assets like microgeneration or solar panels, or joint purchasing of renewable energy. Undertaking these renovation projects is not always easy, and multiple barriers discourage citizens from undertaking them, such as financial, legal and technical hurdles. The pilot project launched today will help citizens to overcome these by providing advice and guidance to initiatives such as ‘One-Stop-Shops’ and other advisory services that help citizens to improve the energy performance of their homes. The consortium will be inviting applications from eligible One-Stop-Shops and energy communities to participate in the project over the coming weeks.