Catalysing Inclusive, Representative, Equitable Energy reNovation wavE

ongoing

Energy poverty is a pressing issue in the European Union, affecting millions and leading to adverse impacts on public health, social inclusion, and quality of life. IRENE (Catalysing an Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Energy Renovation Wave) aims to address this challenge by promoting comprehensive and integral energy efficiency renovations in multi-apartment buildings, with a focus on combating energy poverty and preventing gentrification. By collaborating with four key cities: Vilvoorde and Leuven (Belgium), Vilnius (Lithuania), and Madrid (Spain), IRENE aims to implement effective and inclusive strategies tailored to the unique needs of vulnerable populations. The project centers on establishing and enhancing One-Stop Shops (OSS), which serve as centralized hubs providing technical, financial and legal support for energy renovations. These OSS will guide residents through every stage of the process, ensuring that even those with limited resources can access energy-efficient improvements. Our approach begins with a thorough diagnosis in each city, forming multi-stakeholder groups including local authorities, community representatives, and technical experts. These groups will contribute to the creation of Energy Justice Hubs designed to foster dialogue, develop solutions, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the project's impacts. IRENE will include an inclusive and participatory process, providing tailored training programmes to empower residents and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to actively engage in the energy transition. We aim to break down regulatory and financial barriers by working with policy makers to inform them and by exploring innovative financing mechanisms to make renovations accessible and meaningful. By applying these interventions across diverse urban contexts, IRENE seeks to develop scalable models for inclusive energy renovations reducing energy consumption and costs and improving living conditions.