The European Union has set ambitious targets to accelerate the energy renovation of its building stock, with annual renovation rates that rised from 1% in 2021–2022, 1.2% for 2023–2025 to 2% for 2026–2029. To achieve these goals, the Renovation Wave (RW) Initiative was introduced as a cornerstone of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery package. This initiative, which spans from 2021 to 2026, focuses on improving energy efficiency in buildings by providing financial, technical, and structural support for renovation programs across Europe.
As part of the LOCALISED project, a European Union-funded initiative aimed at supporting local and regional administrations in implementing effective climate actions, a comprehensive analysis has been conducted on the programmes developed in Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany, Austria, and Belgium. This study identified a total of 112 programmes linked to the Renovation Wave (RW) Initiative, with the objective of assessing the actions and strategies promoted in each region, as well as their impact not only on the renovation of the building stock but also across various areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The study highlights how RW programs contribute to key sustainability goals, including SDG 7 for affordable and sustainable energy, SDG 11 for inclusive and sustainable cities, and SDG 13 for urgent climate action. Regional variations reflect climatic and socioeconomic factors, such as prioritizing cooling efficiency in warmer areas and heating efficiency in colder regions. Belgium demonstrates a notable focus on modern management systems and innovative regulations, while energy poverty and building energy consumption have emerged as crucial priorities across all regions. The findings will inform the LOCALISED Decarbonisation Profiler, a tool designed to integrate these programs with broader climate strategies, ensuring that local actions are harmonized with national and European objectives.
In this context, the GiDomus project, funded by the LIFE programme, could make a valuable contribution to achieving the objectives set out in renovation plans by offering a service that drives and simplifies the renovation process for homeowners while promoting long-term implementation through innovative solutions. At the heart of the project is the Domus One-Stop Shop (OSS) model, which supports the green transition by providing tailored services to homeowners, such as administrative, technical, and financial advice. This model facilitates access to grants and incentives, connects homeowners with trusted professionals, and explores innovative financing mechanisms, such as crowdfunding, to engage citizens in energy renovation efforts.
By addressing common barriers to renovation, such as administrative complexity, lack of technical expertise, and financial challenges, the OSS approach of GiDomus aligns with the broader objectives of the Renovation Wave and the European Green Deal. Its pilot implementation in the Girona region demonstrates its potential as a replicable model for other regions in Catalonia, Spain, and beyond.
The GiDomus project showcases how local, citizen-focused initiatives can complement European-wide strategies such as the Renovation Wave. By empowering homeowners and fostering professional training in the energy sector, GiDomus not only addresses immediate renovation needs but also supports long-term goals of reducing energy consumption, combating energy poverty, and promoting sustainability.