From Cold Buildings to Climate Action: How Romanian Municipalities Progress

For millions of people in Romania, energy poverty means more than high energy bills. During winter, many homes remain cold because heating systems are unable to keep up and poorly insulated buildings lose heat quickly. Between one third and almost half of the population is estimated to be affected. At the same time, municipalities across the country struggle with old public buildings that waste energy and strain local budgets. As buildings account for around 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, improving their efficiency has become essential for meeting Europe’s climate goals. While EU legislation such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets ambitious targets, many Romanian municipalities have long lacked the expertise, funding and planning tools needed to transform these ambitions into reality. This is where change begins.

Multi-story residential building with scaffolding and two workers on an aerial work platform at the facade

Turning Plans into Progress

For many local authorities, the challenge was never a lack of will. It was not knowing where to start. Energy consumption was often recorded because regulations required it, but the information rarely translated into concrete action. Renovation projects were expensive and required technical expertise, which was often scarce. Municipalities also often lacked a long-term strategy for deciding which buildings to renovate first, how to finance the work, and how to maximise energy savings. Over the past years, EUKI-funded projects have provided municipalities with exactly the tools they were missing: long-term renovation strategies, Building Renovation Passports, financing roadmaps, energy audits, and practical guidance for sustainable renovations.

Construction workers on suspended scaffolding renovating a large concrete building facade with scaffolding and red safety netting on the side — Building Renovation © icsilviu

Knowledge and Collaboration are Key

Through Climate Action Buildings, five Romanian municipalities developed their first long-term renovation strategies. The project demonstrated how renovations can be planned systematically by establishing five Building Renovation Passports. This avoided isolated repairs while providing practical guidance that enabled other municipalities to adopt the same approach. At the same time, cooperation with partners from Bulgaria ensured that successful solutions spread beyond local borders.

Good plans also need reliable information. In Romania’s Dobruja region, EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube created a regional Energy Efficiency Map covering 126 public administrations. For the first time, municipalities could base decisions on comprehensive data rather than assumptions. Energy audits were conducted on ten public buildings to identify the most effective areas for achieving savings. An integrated action plan was also created to translate the technical findings into practical recommendations. The project also trained 60 built environment professionals according to the internationally recognised “Passive House standard“, helping address the shortage of qualified experts needed for high-quality renovations.

A partially constructed house with visible roof structure, wooden cladding, and window openings without frames. — Energy Renovation, Photo: ©Viking house

From Planning to Implementation

Planning is important, however, municipalities also need financing and the confidence to navigate increasingly complex European legislation. This is where Renocally made a difference. Eight additional Building Renovation Passports and five municipal financing strategies provided local authorities in Romania with technical and financial roadmaps for future investments. Training sessions helped municipalities to understand the latest European requirements and to integrate renovation planning into regional energy and climate strategies. This made it easier to secure funding for ambitious renovation projects.

Even the best strategies only succeed if local administrations have the skills to implement them. Through MENERGERS, 30 Romanian municipalities strengthened their energy management capacities, while a national communication platform connected municipalities, experts and decision-makers across sectors. Cities such as Alba Iulia, Sfântu Gheorghe and Zalău introduced professional municipal energy management, improving energy monitoring and reducing both energy consumption and costs. The project’s Romanian Energy Efficiency Performance Guide now allows other municipalities to replicate these approaches.

From Energy Poverty to Renovation Strategies

Finally, SURF helped municipal staff in Romania translate knowledge into everyday practice. By sharing 21 successful European examples of sustainable renovation, circular construction and green public procurement, the project equipped municipalities with practical checklists, factsheets and guidance that make complex renovation projects easier to implement. Instead of reinventing solutions, municipalities can now build on successful experience from across Europe.

The result is bigger than any single renovated building. Romanian municipalities now have better data, stronger technical expertise, clearer renovation strategies and more robust financial planning. Together, these tools enable them to renovate buildings more effectively, reduce energy consumption and lower emissions. For citizens, this means more than advancing climate targets. Better buildings can lower energy costs, improve comfort and help tackle one of Romania’s most pressing social challenges: energy poverty.

The transition to an energy-efficient building stock will take many more years. Today, many Romanian municipalities are no longer asking if they can act, but rather when. They have the knowledge, the tools and the partnerships to decide how to act and to make every renovation count.