New policy guidance and tools to support energy renovation in rural homes
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Housing
- Energy
- Climate
- Nature and environment
Improving the energy performance of rural homes is crucial to ensuring fair and sustainable living conditions. A new policy brief and set of resources from the RENOVERTY project provide solutions to help rural households renovate their properties, tackling challenges such as ageing building stock, limited access to finance, and gaps in institutional support.
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The publication outlines lessons from the LIFE programme-funded RENOVERTY project’s Rural Energy Efficiency Roadmaps (REERs) which bring together technical advice, funding guidance, legal considerations and community engagement. These integrated pathways are designed to support rural families step by step – from understanding renovation needs to accessing financial support and trusted local services.
To scale up the approach, the policy brief recommends:
- Embedding REERs in national renovation strategies and funding schemes;
- Strengthening local and regional capacity, including support for municipalities, civil society organisations and intermediaries such as Local Action Groups and one-stop-shops;
- Ensuring rural needs are systematically addressed in energy and housing policy design.
Alongside the policy brief, RENOVERTY has released practical tools for rural households, including a step-by-step renovation leaflet, a short explainer video, and tailored guidance videos for homeowners in seven pilot countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia). These materials simplify each stage of the renovation journey, helping families plan, choose the right solutions, and secure available funding.
Discover the latest Rural Pact resources on energy and join the dedicated online discussion group to connect and exchange with peers.