Estonia: A Regional Model Making Renovation Possible

In Võrumaa, Estonia, a regional OSS for residential building renovation was created to respond to the growing issues of aging apartment buildings, rising energy costs, and complex renovation procedures. With support from the RenoWave project (Interreg Baltic Sea Region), the Võrumaa Development Centre launched a practical and accessible model that offers comprehensive support tailored to local needs.

Advisory Services for Every Step

The OSS functions as an advisory platform, empowering homeowners and housing associations with one-on-one consultation sessions with legal and financial experts, workshops, and easy-to-follow guidance materials. It supports the entire renovation journey, from raising awareness to accessing financing and selecting appropriate technical solutions. Special emphasis is placed on helping residents navigate public funding opportunities, making renovations more feasible for a wide range of homeowners.

Building a Local Network

To improve collaboration among key actors, the OSS created Koduomanike Kogu, a stakeholder forum that brings together property owners, financial institutions, energy experts, and policymakers. This forum ensures a more efficient renovation process.

Community-Focused Communication

While the OSS currently operates within Võrumaa, its model is scalable and adaptable to other regions in Estonia and the broader Baltic Sea area. Its core services include advisory support on improving energy performance, assistance in finding reliable service providers, and guidance on selecting suitable renovation strategies. The primary target groups are housing associations, apartment owners, local municipalities, and stakeholders who are either directly involved in or responsible for initiating building renovations. Communication with these groups takes place through various channels, including social media, public forums, mailing lists, and direct consultations.

Expert Team and Sustainable Financing

The OSS is operated by a dedicated team of energy consultants, financial advisors, and project managers, who work closely with external specialists to provide tailored support. Its funding is primarily sourced from EU grants and municipal contributions.

Overcoming Challenges and Gaining Trust

Naturally, the implementation of the OSS was not without challenges. Initial scepticism from homeowners, bureaucratic barriers, and limited awareness about financing options created hurdles. However, through consistent outreach, transparent sharing of case studies, and strong policy advocacy, the OSS gradually earned the trust of residents and demonstrated the tangible benefits of energy-efficient renovations. Today, the Võrumaa OSS is recognized nationally as a model regional OSS for building renovation.

More information: vorumaa.ee/projekt/renowave

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