Making Building Refurbishment More Citizen-Centred

Topics: Buildings Energy Transition and Climate-Neutral Buildings

Countries: Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, EUKI project CONGREGATE has helped to ensure that building refurbishments in the country are carried out using new methods aligning with energy-efficient practices. The project’s technical and sociological studies showed that successful refurbishments do not depend solely on funding and technical solutions. Equally important are clear information, trust, advice and support for property owners when making complex decisions. These findings were incorporated into discussions on the National Building Renovation Plan and underlined the importance of targeted support for vulnerable households. The project results were also utilised in the follow-up projects SHEERenov and SHEERenov+, which were funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme. So-called ‘one-stop shops’ were established to support property owners from the initial information on financing and technical planning right through to the implementation of a renovation. In doing so, CONGREGATE has promoted an approach that views citizens as active participants in the energy transition. This approach continues to shape renovation programmes in Bulgaria and supports the long-term energy modernisation of buildings.