Governance pathways to energy‑efficient building retrofitting through peer-to-peer learning and capacity building

Abstract

Extended abstract 3-070-26 Achieving the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality goal hinges on advancing energy-efficient building retrofits to decarbonise the sector. Although the European Green Deal provides a strong framework – through legislation such as the Energy Efficiency Directive, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Renovation Wave initiative – Europe’s current annual renovation rate for public and private buildings lingers at just 1%, far below what is needed. Local and regional authorities (LRAs) play a pivotal role in turning these policies into concrete action. Still, they face persistent challenges, such as limited technical and financial resources, knowledge and skills shortages, poor data quality and availability, and other issues, all of which are now quite well documented in the literature. This contribution explores how peer-to-peer capacity building enables LRAs to overcome these challenges. Drawing on evidence from the PROSPECT across its three editions, which, over the last eight years, has supported over 400 cities and regions with innovative financing schemes for energy efficiency retrofits, the study focuses on the participants’ experiences. Combining a survey and online exchanges with mentors and mentees from PROSPECT’s programme, the study demonstrates that the project’s peer learning – especially mentoring and study visits - boosts LRAs’ capacity to design, finance, and implement energy-efficiency renovation projects. It enhances technical and financial knowledge, strengthens stakeholder relations and trust-building, and fosters networking. PROSPECT’s mentees gain skills in communication, project planning and management, and stakeholder engagement, leading to improved projects, new initiatives, and secured or pursued funding. Yet, while peer-to-peer learning advances LRAs’ climate and energy efforts, it falls short of addressing deep-rooted issues, such as those involving bureaucracy, institutions, and politics. Thus, even though peer-to-peer learning supports bottom-up implementation, it alone cannot achieve climate neutrality. Therefore, aligning policies, financial instruments, and capacity-building programmes like peer-to-peer learning is key to scaling up energy-efficient building renovations, thereby supporting the EU’s long-term energy efficiency and climate goals. This research was funded by LIFE24-CET-PROSPECT CUBE (101212861).  Download presentation.