The imperative for swift, extensive building renovation across Europe is undeniable, yet the endeavour encounters many hurdles. Challenges such as consumer confidence, the availability of reputable contractors, and the diverse array of needs across various countries and regions all contribute to the complexity of the process.
Context of the creation of the One-Stop Shop
Regione Piemonte has established standardised rules, methods and approaches for energy efficiency renovation work to ensure that the renovations deliver the promised energy and financial savings. This was done in the framework of the H2020 project Europa, co-financed by the European Commission. These guidelines serve to strengthen the confidence of homeowners and assist stakeholders such as condominium managers, construction companies, and professional organisations in navigating and promoting renovation works. A one-stop shop (OSS) was established in 2021 with the technical support of our local partner Environment Park. The service coordinates information and engages the various stakeholders involved in the renovation journey. The Europa project was implemented in Italy, and similar OSSs have been established in Germany, France, Latvia, and Portugal, each grappling with unique challenges. Indeed, OSSs had to tailor their services to the specific needs of different regions. Recognising variations in market maturity, legal frameworks, financial incentives, and climate conditions. For instance, in Italy and France, the primary challenge was engaging regional market operators already burdened by high demand, fueled by abundant incentives for building renovation. In Germany, the OSS focused on disseminating information to building owners and encouraging progression in the renovation journey. Conversely, in Latvia, the OSS grappled with an unfavourable legislative environment and a lack of incentives for renovation. Arena Tejo collaborated with seven municipalities in Portugal to facilitate energy assessments for many residential buildings.
Revised strategy after initial set-up
After the end of the Europa project, Piemonte set a new frame for its OSS activities. In particular, it was clear that in order to target the residents effectively, a stronger collaboration should be reinforced with municipalities. This goes in the direction of the approved Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), pointing out the need to spread out the establishment of OSSs across Europe. A form of multilevel governance should be defined as one where some tools and activities can be centralised at the regional level. In contrast, others must be more local in order to be effective. For this purpose, the platform for home services has been redesigned, and new services for municipalities have been defined. For example, the organisation of informative days to attract potential homeowners willing to renovate their homes is envisaged, and forms of collective purchase for specific renovation measures will be tested in collaboration with local authorities.
The one-stop shop as part of an integrated strategy
The platform (https://www.sportelloenergia.envipark.com/) is a landing page for a set of technical assistance services provided to different customers. Sportello Energia Piemonte addresses the residential sector, whereas the LIFE project Gasless targets the public building sector and Recrosses the renewable energy communities. The latter is a project aiming at creating a facilitation structure to support the energy refurbishment of public buildings of the whole Piemonte Region. All actions are based on the collaboration established with Environment Park and other regional stakeholders. They are part of the activities implemented by the region to facilitate the energy transition.
In EU Peers, Piemonte Region is taking care of the Italian Community platform, together with ENEA. The participation in EU Peers project is strategic for the Piemonte Region as it creates the ideal framework to place the regional initiatives into a wider perspective, getting profit of an early implementation of the foreseen actions streamlined in the EU directives (e.g the EPBD and the EED) for the years to come.
More information: https://europaonestop.eu
Contact person: Silvio De Nigris, silvio.denigris@regione.piemonte.it
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