Public buildings should be a leading first mover in the renovation of the building stock, yet after renovation they often fail to deliver the planned energy savings. The central topic of the conference was therefore the energy performance gap, the discrepancy between a building’s predicted energy use and its measured consumption following renovation, during operation. Research shows that actual consumption in public buildings is often up to 30% higher than predicted. When savings fall short of expectations, operating costs rise and renovation payback periods extend beyond those planned. This reduces the resources available for other public services and, at the scale of the entire building stock, slows emission reductions and makes it harder to achieve energy efficiency goals.

Drawing on findings from Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Poland, participants discussed the scale and underlying drivers of the gap, as well as practical solutions and policy recommendations to address it. The project results show that the causes cannot be traced to a single stage; instead, they accumulate throughout the renovation lifecycle. Among the most common are energy audits carried out as a mere formality, public procurement based solely on the lowest price, insufficient supervision of works, and a lack of post-renovation monitoring. The outcome of a renovation can therefore be influenced at four key stages: planning, financing, execution and monitoring.

REA North took part in three panel discussions. The panel Financing Mechanisms to Support High Performing Renovations examined how to align financing with the expected energy performance of renovations, and how grants, loans and private capital can contribute to better results. The panel Planning for High Performing Renovations in Public Buildings discussed how to take into account the way a building will actually be used after renovation when selecting and planning measures. The panel Tracking and Minimising Energy Performance Gap through Monitoring focused on using consumption measurements to verify whether the expected savings are being achieved and to identify underperformance early enough to take corrective action.

The project’s findings and recommendations were also discussed in the context of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the National Building Renovation Plans (NBRP), whose development the OUR-CEE results are intended to support. Participants emphasised the importance of measured energy consumption data, both for verifying the results of completed renovations and for planning future investments in public buildings.

As part of the conference programme, REA North also presented the REDESIGN project in a presentation titled REDESIGN: Phasing Out Inefficient Buildings and Driving the Continuous Improvement of the Region’s Building Stock. REDESIGN builds on the results of OUR-CEE and focuses on the worst-performing public buildings and on preparing for the introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) required by the recast EPBD. The presentation therefore followed naturally from the discussion on the deep renovation of such buildings.

The conference was hosted by Energy Policy Group (EPG) from Romania, coordinator of the OUR-CEE project, which is implemented together with REA North, the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect from Bulgaria and the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” (PNEC) from Poland. The project’s key findings are summarised in the publication Bridging the Energy Performance Gap, available on the project website our-cee.eu, including in Croatian.

OUR-CEE is financed through European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava REA North at the OUR-CEE Final Conference in Bucharest pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The introductory presentation outlined the key challenges in the renovation of public buildings: a low renovation rate of around 1% of the building stock per year, energy-inefficient buildings, a lack of institutional and technical capacity, and dependence on fossil fuels. The rules on Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) were also explained, under which 16% of the worst-performing public buildings must be renovated by 2030.

Within OUR-CEE project (Overcoming Underperforming Renovations in Central and Eastern Europe), existing and newly proposed financial instruments for the energy renovation of public buildings were presented. They are set out in a handbook that provides a comprehensive overview of funding sources and financing models for the energy renovation of public buildings.

A professor Bojan Milovanovic from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering then compared design principles under the nZEB and ZEB standards with the principles of bioclimatic design. He also presented the use of renewable energy sources, smart materials and materials with a reduced environmental impact in public buildings.

The second part of the webinar presented blower-door testing as a method for testing the airtightness of a public building’s envelope. Participants learned about the testing systems and the construction phase in which the test needs to be carried out. Methods for detecting air leakage points and identifying airtightness solutions were also presented. REDESIGN and OUR-CEE projects are funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava Online Webinar Held within the REDESIGN Project Bioclimatic Design and Construction Quality Assurance pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The trainers, Damir Mandic and Matej Viljevac, gave participants a practical overview of the renovation process – from data collection and setting priorities, through defining the depth of renovation, technical and financial preparation and public procurement, to implementation, quality control and monitoring of results. Alongside national and EU policies and the new nZEB and ZEB standards, special emphasis was placed on strategic management of the public building stock and the development of a long-term renovation plan. This helps cities and municipalities focus their planning and project implementation on achieving the highest possible energy savings and climate neutrality.

In the second part of the training, participants took part in the practical exercise From Building to Renovation Project. Its aim was to test whether they could link planning, technical preparation, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of results.

Each participant received a copy of the First-Level Support Operative Manual. The manual was developed within the project and contains relevant information on the overall renovation process, starting from planning to execution and post-renovation monitoring, it serves as a practical guide for city and municipal officials, local energy advisors, project managers and technical coordinators involved in the renovation of public buildings and in providing first-level support to citizens.

REDESIGN project is funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava Second First-level support training on Energy Renovation of Public Buildings Held in Sisak pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The study trip brought together all REDESIGN project partners – REA North, the Energy Policy Group (EPG) and the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect – each of which was joined by representatives of cities and municipalities from their respective countries. The knowledge-sharing study trip is part of the REDESIGN project activities focused on knowledge sharing and capacity building for the deep renovation of the worst-performing public buildings (WPPB).

At the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, project partners met with representatives of the Ministry and learned about the projects and activities of the Bavarian innovation network for energy and construction. The network is managed by Bayern Innovativ, Bavarian company for innovation and knowledge transfer. It connects companies, scientific and research institutions, and representatives of politics and the public sector. Through its Innovative Building initiative (Innovatives Bauen), network follows developments in the construction sector and brings topics such as circular construction and the electrification of construction sites into practice. This approach is also relevant for REDESIGN project. The introduction of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) requires a renovation ecosystem ready to deliver a larger number of quality deep renovations, i.e. designers, contractors and material manufacturers familiar with innovative technologies. Bavarian example shows how public administration, with the support of a specialised agency, can systematically connect decision makers with experts and industry, and speed up the transfer of innovation from research into everyday construction and renovation practice. The visit provided an opportunity to exchange experience on connecting public administration and experts in developing sustainable solutions.

This was followed by a tour of Prinz-Eugen-Park, home to the largest contiguous timber-built residential settlement in Germany. This example of environmentally and socially sustainable urban development shows how the choice of materials, quality planning and the involvement of residents can contribute to more sustainable cities. The ecological model settlement, built on the site of former military barracks, comprises around 570 dwellings in buildings of up to seven storeys. City of Munich encouraged timber construction through its own funding programme, allocating around EUR 13.6 million based on the quantity of renewable building materials used. For the REDESIGN project partners, this is an example of how public administration can steer construction towards zero-emission buildings through planning and funding criteria. This also takes into account the life-cycle carbon footprint of buildings, which the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) introduces as an obligation for new buildings.

At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), participants learned about approaches to energy-efficient and sustainable design and toured a renovated university building. A representative of the Chair of Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Planning and Building presented the NKI:BauKlima-kommunal project. In cooperation with Deutsche Umwelthilfe, the project has supported German cities and municipalities in planning climate-friendly construction and renovation of public buildings. CO₂ emissions were assessed over the entire life cycle of buildings, and renovation of existing buildings was given priority over new construction. The participants were also introduced to Institute Building 0505, a reinforced concrete building from 1963 that did not meet current energy efficiency and fire safety requirements. It was renovated while preserving the existing load-bearing structure and received a new thermally insulated building envelope, ventilation with heat recovery and a connection to the district heating system. Public buildings from this period are also present in Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, and it is precisely these buildings that are the focus of REDESIGN project. The visit highlighted the importance of educating future architects, civil engineers and other professionals in sustainable construction and energy renovation.

The experience gained during the study trip builds on the previously developed Local-level renovation plans and Renovation Passports for several public buildings in Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. These documents, available on the official REDESIGN project website, link setting renovation priorities with planning the gradual renovation towards zero-emission buildings.REDESIGN project is funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava REDESIGN Project Partners and City Representatives on a Knowledge Sharing Study Trip to Munich pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The trainers, Damir Mandic and Matej Viljevac, gave participants a practical overview of the renovation process – from data collection and setting priorities, through defining the depth of renovation, technical and financial preparation and public procurement, to implementation, quality control and monitoring of results. Alongside national and EU policies and the new nZEB and ZEB standards, special emphasis was placed on strategic management of the public building stock and the development of a long-term renovation plan. This helps cities and municipalities focus their planning and project implementation on achieving the highest possible energy savings and climate neutrality.

In the second part of the training, participants took part in the practical exercise From Building to Renovation Project. Its aim was to test whether they could link planning, technical preparation, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of results. A demonstration of airtightness testing in buildings using the blower-door test was also held, as one of the ways to ensure and verify the quality of completed works.

Each participant received a copy of the First-Level Support Operative Manual. The manual was developed within the project and contains relevant information on the overall renovation process, starting from planning to execution and post-renovation monitoring, it serves as a practical guide for city and municipal officials, local energy advisors, project managers and technical coordinators involved in the renovation of public buildings and in providing first-level support to citizens.REDESIGN project is funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava First-level support training on Energy Renovation of Public Buildings Held in Cakovec pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The webinar organized on September 17^th, 2026, addressed key topics related to the future renovation of the building stock, with a REA North’s presentation particularly focusing on planning the gradual phase-out of worst-performing public buildings, the role of renovation passports and long-term renovation pathways, and the practical implementation of MEPS. 

The webinar provided an opportunity to exchange professional knowledge and experiences and to discuss the challenges of translating the European policy framework into practical renovation processes. 

A big thank to Green Building Council Croatia and all participants for the engaging discussion and exchange of expertise.

REDESIGN project is financed through the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) programme.

Objava REA North presents MEPS to renovation professionals  pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The central part of the conference was a presentation by Damir Mandic, Business Development Manager at REA North, on the local renovation plan and renovation passports for public buildings. Among other things, he presented how European and national targets are translated into a concrete plan at city level, linking European directives, the National Building Renovation Plan, the local renovation plan and the renovation passport for an individual public building into a single chain. The local renovation plan objectively and transparently sets renovation priorities, while the renovation passport turns a strategic goal into a phased, financially detailed pathway to a zero-emission building. Along these lines, renovation passports were developed for the City of Virovitica for Jan Vlaswimsky Music School, Virovitica Theatre and Public Fire Brigade (JVP), providing a basis for future renovation projects of these public buildings.

Examples of good practice from Grubisno Polje, Koprivnica, Cakovec and Virovitica were also presented. City of Virovitica presented the energy renovation of the Vladimir Nazor Primary School, one of the city’s largest investments in education, worth almost three million euros.

Matej Viljevac, Junior Project Manager at REA North, presented financial instruments for energy renovation as part of the OUR-CEE project (Overcoming Underperforming Renovations in Central and Eastern Europe) — an overview of the available financing models together with examples of good practice in Croatia and the EU, with the message that the future lies in combining grants and financial instruments.

REDESIGN and OUR-CEE projects are funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI).

Objava Inspirational National Renovation Conference of REDESIGN project Held in Virovitica pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The workshop covered the Kvarner region and the Primorje-Gorski kotar region, from which representatives of the expert public, local and regional government administrations, public institutions and academic community were present. Capacity Building was intended to show the possibilities of GJT Dashboard, to transfer the knowledge, experience, and to collect valuable feedback.

The particular emphasis of REA North contribution was to show how the microfinancing instrument in Municipality of Legrad functions and what are the benefits of such local financial instrument. We also presented the possibilities of AI tools VIREAS and Municipal AI tool, and the GJT Dashboard in financing energy renovation and Green and Just Transition (GJT) measures in municipalities and cities. All these tools work together as a free info point and knowledge base for citizens on energy renovation, renewable energy sources, and current co-financing conditions.

The BauNOW project – Investing in Green and Just Transition for a New Sustainable Business as Usual Economy – is co-financed by the EU Interreg Euro-MED programme.

Objava REA North Presents the Results of the BauNOW Project at Energy Day in Rijeka pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

The buildings on this property are designed according to the principle of nearly zero-energy consumption (nZEB) standard, with passive design, high-performance insulation, heat pumps and automated natural ventilation. Planned solar greenhouses use semi-transparent photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and pyrolytic heating fuelled by pruning waste, enabling year-round cultivation and agrivoltaics – dual-use land producing both food and electricity. The energy backbone is a rooftop solar plant expanded through agrivoltaics and a battery storage system using recyclable sodium-chloride batteries. Plans also include green mobility (a fully electric fleet), green hydrogen production, and sharing surplus energy with a nearby renewable energy community.

A closed-loop water system combines rainwater harvesting, greywater and blackwater treatment, and AI-driven irrigation (cutting use by up to 60%), alongside innovations such as graphcube filters and phytoremediation. The fifth pillar unites circular economy and biodiversity: biochar, a biodynamic garden (“orto bioattivo”), on-site composting, and therapeutic agriculture for children and youth.

That same day, the project partners also held presentations on the progress and realization of their project pilots and results. REA North and the Municipality of Legrad jointly presented progress on the development of a new financial instrument to support citizens in implementing energy renovation measures, as well as progress on the development of an AI chatbot to support citizens in all administrative areas for which the Municipality of Legrad is responsible.

The last day of the meeting was held in the center of Rome at the Europa Experience – David Sassoli center and was dedicated to reviewing the status and opportunities in the Mediterranean area with a special emphasis on Green Living Areas. A special part of the last day of the meeting was a workshop and panel in the area of ​​investing in local and regional green and just transition (GJT) with the collection of opinions and recommendations for future priorities for further development of this area.

The final meeting was organized by the Italian partner in the project – Kyoto Club, and in addition to the hosts, partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Slovenia and Montenegro also participated. The BauNOW project will end on 31 December 2026.

Objava The final meeting of the BauNOW project held in Rome pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.

At a time of pronounced geopolitical changes, energy instability and economic pressure on the European economy, this year’s conference placed a strong emphasis on the urgency of implementing green policies. Through three panel discussions, participants analysed the current progress of the European Union in achieving climate goals and identified key barriers faced by local and regional authorities. It was emphasised that the transition to sustainable energy sources is no longer solely an environmental issue, but also a matter of energy independence and long-term social stability.

In addition to panels featuring European climate experts, REA North also participated in five specialized workshops addressing critical challenges currently faced by Europe. The workshop entitled Co-design Just Energy Transition discussed methods for co-creating energy policies with citizens and involving local communities in order to ensure a just transition. The workshop CCS in CEE: Closing the Gap focused on bridging legislative and technological gaps in the implementation of carbon capture and storage technologies in Central and Eastern Europe. Through the topic Cities Driving Circular Economy, the role of cities in the transition towards a circular economy was highlighted through smart resource management and waste reduction. Workshop Navigating Climate Scepticism was designed to provide participants with a practical introduction to recognizing common climate-skeptic narratives and to guide them toward constructive, science-based communication strategies for effectively and confidently responding to misinformation in their daily work. Finally, the workshop Beyond Natural Gas focused on long-term alternatives to natural gas, the decarbonisation of heating in buildings, and the application of green hydrogen and heat pumps in industrial processes.

Through the poster exhibition of current EUKI projects, two projects implemented by REA North were also presented: OUR-CEE and REDESIGN, both financed through the EUKI programme, which offer complementary approaches to improving the energy efficiency of public buildings in Central and Eastern Europe. While OUR-CEE project focuses on identifying the reasons for underperfomed results of previously implemented energy renovations and developing strategies for their improvement, REDESIGN project develops a methodology for the renovation of the worst-performing public buildings through the introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS).

REDESIGN and OUR-CEE projects are financed through the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) programme.

Objava REA North Participated in the Sixth EUKICON Conference in Berlin pojavila se prvi puta na Regionalna energetska agencija.