Regional one-stop-shops as a driver of apartment renovation: Insights from EnergoDialogs 2025

At the regional conference EnergoDialogs 2025, held in Vidzeme last October, experts and municipal representatives discussed how renovation of multi-apartment buildings can be supported more effectively. While funding instruments and policy frameworks are critical, participants emphasised that the availability of practical guidance for residents often determines whether renovation projects move forward.

The event was recorded in Latvian, and the full recordings are now available on the Vidzeme Planning Region website, so that the discussions can be viewed later and shared with others who were not able to attend: https://www.vidzeme.lv/energodialogs-2025-videoieraksti/

A dedicated session focused specifically on the role of One-Stop-Shop (OSS) solutions and explored what type of model could best meet regional needs. Representatives from the Riga Energy Agency shared their experience of advising households in the capital, showing how consistent access to consultations enables residents to make informed renovation decisions. Gulbene Municipality highlighted that smaller administrations rely strongly on external expertise, as local technical and administrative capacity may be limited.

The experience of Vidzemes EnergoGids demonstrated how regional support functions most effectively when it is proactive. Rather than expecting residents to seek information themselves, advisors often needed to attend building meetings, present the technical condition of the building and explain available pathways for renovation. These interactions helped open conversations that otherwise may not have started, showing that meaningful progress begins with bringing guidance directly to communities.

Speakers also linked these practical insights to the wider European context. With the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requiring long-term renovation planning, advisory services are becoming essential in transforming policy goals into real projects. In her presentation, Selīna Ābelniece outlined the broader legislative direction at the EU level, reinforcing the view that regional OSS-like structures will play a central role in helping residents and municipalities fulfil renovation commitments.

The conclusion emerging from the discussion was clear: if large-scale renovation of multi-apartment buildings is to accelerate, advisory support cannot be sporadic or project-based. It needs to be accessible, structured and long-term. Vidzeme and Riga provide complementary examples—one regional, one municipal—illustrating that when expertise is embedded into everyday decision-making, communities become far more prepared to initiate renovation.

EnergoDialogs did not aim to present a single model for OSS development. Instead, it opened space to examine renovation from different angles: regulatory context, municipal practice and direct engagement with residents. In doing so, the event highlighted a core principle—renovation is not only a matter of engineering and finance. It is a collective process built on trust, clear communication and support that meets people where they are.

Information prepared by Baiba Šelkovska, Communication Manager, Vidzeme Planning Region, Latvia. E-mail: baiba.selkovska@vidzeme.lv

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