CONGREGATE – Building Renovation and Renewable Energy Cooperatives

Energy efficient renovation and encouraging “prosumer” behaviour though energy cooperative are proven measures that support the sustainable energy transition. However, neither building renovation programmes nor the creation of energy cooperatives are usually accompanied by adequate communication campaigns. This makes these successful practices invisible to both citizens and potential investors.

Buildings under renovation in Bulgaria. Photo: (c) Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect

To promote interest and participation in building renovation and in the creation of energy cooperatives, the project combined two distinctive actions. 

First, it developed a communication strategy to support national building renovation strategies in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania and organised different events to promote these strategies. For each country, the project monitored and analysed how current renovation programmes impact residents’ energy and financial savings as well their behaviours and attitudes. Results from this study informed future national campaigns for civic engagement in building renovation programmes. 

Second, the project promoted the establishment of public-private renewable energy cooperatives in Bulgaria, Greece, and the Czech Republic. To do so, it conducted three case studies per country and supported feasibility studies in the involved municipalities. The project then organised a variety of events to raise awareness for the results of the studies.  

• Innovative, data-based communication model for renovation strategies: A new data-based communication model was developed, tested and presented. It combines technical measurements (e.g. energy consumption, indoor climate) with socio-economic surveys and thus provides an evidence-based decision-making basis for policy makers and administrators. The model supports the more effective implementation of national long-term renovation strategies (LTRS) and strengthens the quality of energy policy decisions. 
• Feasibility studies promote energy cooperatives: In Bulgaria, Greece and the Czech Republic, technical and economic feasibility studies were carried out on the establishment of public energy cooperatives in nine pilot municipalities, including Sofia, Burgas, Dobrich, Egaleo and Pavlos Melas. The studies led to concrete implementation steps and strengthened cooperation between municipalities, citizens and companies. Three municipalities declared their willingness to establish energy communities - a clear indication of the project's impact. 
• New legal basis enables energy communities in the Czech Republic: Through the project work, the partner organisation SEVEn initiated changes to the Czech Energy Act to integrate the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) und Energy Market Directive (EMD). Since 1 January 2023, a new regulation has allowed the use and sharing of solar power in apartment buildings for the first time, making energy cooperatives legally possible. The project thus contributed directly to the creation of a legal framework for energy cooperatives and strengthened the participation of citizens in the energy transition. 
• Institutional impact in Croatia: data collection becomes national standard: The CONGREGATE data collection methodology was integrated into the National Reconstruction and Resilience Programme (NPOO) by the Croatian Agency for Real Estate (APN). This will make it possible to systematically record and analyse energy and building data across the entire residential sector in the future. This will form a central basis for national energy management and efficient financing of refurbishment measures. 
• Communication strategies strengthen acceptance of building renovations: Comprehensive socio-economic and technical analyses in Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia formed the basis for national communication strategies to promote building renovation. These were presented at over 100 events and improved the understanding and acceptance of energy efficiency measures. As a result, citizens and local authorities are participating more actively in renovation programmes and driving renovations forward more sustainably.