Professional cooperation for building renovation in Hungary

To explore how energy efficiency policies can be strengthened in Hungary, the Equilibrium Institute organised two roundtable discussions with key stakeholders. Participants included decision-makers from the construction sector - such as building material manufacturers, independent experts, and representatives of the renewable energy industry - as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Construction and Transport.

The discussions also brought together experts from leading Hungarian think tanks and research organisations. Among them were Áron Horváth from the Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI) and Ilona Illésné Szécsi from the Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute, representing EU Peers. Both highlighted the importance of establishing one-stop shops to support households and businesses in improving energy efficiency.

Senior government officials joined construction industry partners for the consultations, including Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for Circular Economyand Climate Policy; Daniella Deli, Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy; Regő Lánszki, State Secretary for Architecture; and Renáta Határ, Deputy State Secretary for Construction Economics.

Construction sector experts have been working with the Equilibrium Institute for three years to advance building renovation and energy efficiency programs. The latest meeting followed a May 2025 consultation that presented 29 policy proposals (link to related article in Hungarian). This time, five of them were discussed in detail, with the aim of feeding professional recommendations intothe government’s National Building Renovation Plan (NÉT).

One key proposal focused on creating a nationwide one-stop shop (OSS) system for renovation support. Participants agreed that independent technical, financial, and administrative advice could significantly increase both the number and quality of renovations, as many homeowners lack the knowledge needed to plan such projects.

There was broad consensus that these advisory services should be available both online and in person across the country. Beyond energy efficiency, the network could also provide guidance on renewable energy solutions, urban planning, and architectural issues. Importantly, the system should support homeowners, apartment owners, and entire condominium communities.

Participants also highlighted the need to monitor the system’s impact—raising the question of whether success should bemeasured by the number of consultations alone or by their contribution to completed renovations. Views differed on funding: some supported market-based OSS models, while others argued that public financing is necessary to ensureindependent advice and make services accessible to lower-income households. The EU Peers community of practice was introduced as lively platform where  practical experience with one-stop shop systems can be shared.

The video about the conference with English subtitle is available here.
More information on the Hungarian EU Peers Community Platform here.