Strengthening Local Capacity for Energy-Efficient Renovation of Bremerhaven’s Historic Building Stock

In 2023, the City of Bremerhaven launched its local RenoWave activities in the neighbourhood of Alte Bürger with the aim of making energy-efficient renovation more accessible for residents whilst conserving the historical impression of its art nouveau facades. Together with the Klima- und Energieagentur (KEEA), the communications agency ecolo, and the local neighbourhood office (Quartiersmeisterei), the project tested practical approaches to encourage homeowners and tenants to take the next steps towards energy efficiency.

Understanding Local Needs

At the beginning of the project, RenoWave carried out a survey among residents of the Alte Bürger. The aim was to gain insights into current needs, preferred advisory topics, and expectations regarding the project, which was a follow-up of its predecessor “Klimameile Alte Bürger”. The results helped shape the design of the pilot activities and confirmed a high demand for guidance on heating systems, insulation and building envelope improvements, and the installation of solar PV.

Weekly “One Stop Shop” Advisory Service

A central element of the Bremerhaven pilot was the weekly One Stop Shop, hosted at the Quartiersmeisterei. Every Thursday, residents were able to drop in for free, low-threshold consultations offered by an expert team. Complementary individual and online appointments were offered to maximise accessibility of this service to the property owners out of town.

The consultations focused primarily on:

• Heating technologies, including options for heat pumps and hybrid solutions
• Insulation and building refurbishment measures
• Photovoltaics, including both rooftop systems and plug-in balcony modules
• Additional topics such as energy and water savings and simple DIY measures

The One Stop Shop enabled spontaneous discussions, repeat visits, and longer-term support, helping residents understand their options and plan concrete next steps.

Public Events and Community Engagement

Throughout the implementation period in 2025, RenoWave organised several events to create visibility in the neighbourhood and facilitate knowledge exchange.

During the Energie- und Klimastadttag – a day of action and information related to climate topics – counselling on energy and renovation topics and information about the RenoWave project were offered in the street of Alte Bürger. People were further attracted by cultural activities (so called Sommerstraße) carried out by the local neighbourhood office (Quartiersmeisterei) in the street, which was closed for motorised traffic by that time.

In September, the Energy Week brought workshops, hands-on activities, and additional advisory opportunities to the Alte Bürger. It opened with a talk by the well-known “Energiesparkommissar” Carsten Herbert and provided multiple touchpoints for residents of all ages.

A film evening featuring the documentary “Power to Change” took place at the Quartiersmeisterei, followed by an open discussion on the future of the energy transition and the role of local action.

To support specific target groups, RenoWave also offered dedicated information sessions:

• An event for property owners addressing energy-efficient refurbishment of multi-occupancy buildings, available funding programmes, and relevant legal frameworks.
• An event for tenants, focusing on how households could prepare for the heating season by reducing energy demand and improving indoor comfort through simple and affordable measures.

Learning Across the Baltic Sea Region

Bremerhaven’s activities contributed to the broader RenoWave network, in which partners from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland tested their own models for strengthening local renovation ecosystems. Regular exchange among partners allowed all regions to learn from each other’s challenges and successes.

Conclusion

The RenoWave pilot in the Alte Bürger demonstrated that accessible advisory services, combined with targeted events and community engagement, can improve awareness and motivation regarding home energy renovation. By building direct connections between residents, local authorities, and experts, the project created a strong foundation for future renovation initiatives in Bremerhaven.

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