Driving Energy-Efficient Renovation Through the RenoWave One-Stop-Shop Model

Across Europe, many multi-apartment buildings are aging and energy-inefficient, leaving residents with high energy bills, reduced comfort, and in some cases, safety risks. Despite the clear need, renovation rates remain low, and navigating the complex, multi-step process of improving buildings can be daunting for homeowners. Recognising this challenge, the European Union’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) mandates that Member States establish at least one One-Stop-Shop (OSS) per 80,000 inhabitants or per region. These OSS centres are designed to provide centralised support, offering technical advice, financial guidance, and project management to help residents and building owners overcome traditional renovation barriers.

Implementing OSS effectively requires more than policy compliance; it demands a practical, scalable model capable of guiding users through every stage of renovation. The EU-funded Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021–2027 project, RenoWave, addresses this need with its Extended OSS Model, specifically tailored for multi-apartment buildings in the Baltic Sea Region. By fostering cooperation among homeowners, construction companies, energy agencies, financial institutions and public authorities, RenoWave model facilitates energy-efficient renovations and supports regions in achieving measurable and meaningful results.

RenoWave’s OSS model is designed around the user. Renovation is rarely a one-time event; homeowners interact with the OSS multiple times throughout consideration, decision-making, planning, financing, implementation, evaluation and sharing experiences. The model includes a Data Handling Methodology for building stock data, a Marketing and Communication Module to engage users effectively, a Guide for Establishing Forums to facilitate stakeholder dialogue, and a Technical Assistance Module to support planning and execution. Together, these elements cover all the steps needed to initiate and implement energy-efficiency renovations successfully, while keeping user needs and challenges at the centre.

In addition, the project has developed and published an OSS Guide that includes the Extended OSS Model and serves as a practical reference for stakeholders. The Guide also provides a detailed description of different levels of OSS maturity and includes recommendations for setting up an OSS and defining a suitable business model to ensure long-term sustainability and effective service delivery.

For energy agencies, municipalities, and other organisations tasked with creating OSS, RenoWave provides a tested, adaptable framework. It strengthens institutional capacity, facilitates stakeholder engagement, and builds trust among building owners. By leveraging this model, regions can not only comply with the EPBD but also accelerate the Renovation Wave, delivering tangible improvements in comfort, safety, and energy efficiency.

By combining the EPBD’s legislative mandate with the practical tools and collaborative framework of RenoWave, regions now have a clear pathway to establish OSS that are effective, user-focused, and capable of transforming multi-apartment building renovation across Europe. This integrated approach ensures that the Renovation Wave becomes more

than a policy goal—it becomes a visible, sustainable, and inclusive improvement for communities everywhere.

For professionals interested in practical implementation, we encourage visiting the RenoWave website to explore detailed case studies of OSS in action across different regions, as well as to access the individual components of the One-Stop-Shop Module through dedicated deliverables. These resources provide in-depth insights into operational approaches, methodologies, and lessons learned, supporting institutions, energy agencies, and municipalities in establishing effective and scalable OSS. For more information about the RenoWave project, visit: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/renowave/

The project «One-Stop-Shop extended model to increase the multi-apartment building stock renovation in the BSR» (RenoWave) is implemented with the support from the EU funding Programme Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021 -2027. The project develops One-Stop-Shop extended model specifically designed for the multi-apartment buildings in Baltic Sea Region countries. Partner countries are Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

For more information, please contact with Marit Ragnarsson, Project Lead partner, County board of Dalarna, Sweden. E-mail: marit.ragnarsson@lansstyrelsen.se

Article prepared by: Baiba Šelkovska, Communication manager, Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia.

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