Sustainable Renovation: IHRS Success Cases

Recent studies show that buildings account for about 40% of the EU's CO₂ emissions over their life cycle. To meet climate and energy targets, sustainable building renovation is essential. EU Peers contributes to it by fostering collaboration among Integrated Home Renovation (IHRS) providers and supporters.

Showcasing innovation: Case Studies of Integrated Home Renovation Services Across Europe

As part of the knowledge-sharing process, EU Peers has compiled and published a series of success cases of IHRS from across Europe. These examples serve as crucial resources, not only inspiring other IHRS providers but also offering guidance to external stakeholders interested in supporting the deployment of such services.

This effort isn’t just about showcasing the largest or most impactful IHRS, but rather aims to focus on the most innovative models. This allows the inclusion of IHRSs operating in a broad range of countries, even those where the concept is still emerging. A notable example is RenoPont in Hungary, which, despite challenges such as limited national subsidies and low demand for renovations, has managed to build a reputation as a knowledgeable and independent resource.

Key Takeaways from the Case Studies

The success cases come from in-depth interviews with various IHRS providers across the EU. One of the most striking insights from this work is the diversity among IHRSs. Their structures and activities are highly context-specific, shaped by national legal frameworks, varying levels of financial support, and differing degrees of social recognition and acceptance. Despite this diversity, certain elements emerged as consistently crucial to the success of any IHRS:

1. Building Trust: For IHRS to be effective, customers and stakeholders need to trust service providers. Trust is foundational to the long-term success of IHRS. Establishing physical offices that are easily accessible to users, along with support from local community leaders, has proven particularly effective. A strong example is Opengela (Spain), which established one-stop shop offices in vulnerable neighbourhoods, guiding residents through the entire renovation process.
2. Access to Finance: Securing adequate funding is a critical first step in establishing or scaling up an IHRS. Without sufficient financial support, viability is not achievable. Funding sources can be public, spanning regional, national, and European levels, or IHRSs can generate revenue through professional fees. Many successful IHRSs, such as Hauts-de-France Pass Rénovation (France) and Electric Ireland Superhomes (Ireland), combine fundings from different sources. Additionally, some IHRSs, like MultiHome (Bulgaria) and AdEPorto (Portugal), are working towards becoming self-sustaining. 
3. Support from Local or Regional Authorities: Government backing, whether through policies, incentives, or public endorsements, plays a pivotal role in establishing and scaling up IHRS. In the case of Whilareno (Netherlands), its close cooperation with municipalities helps achieve local climate targets and ensures smooth project management.
4. Guiding the User: Offering support throughout the renovation journey is crucial to keeping users engaged and preventing dropout. Ensuring clear, ongoing guidance can make the process less daunting for homeowners.
5. Providing Tailored Support: Some IHRS have found that offering tailored solutions to meet the specific needs and resources of their target audience is key to success. This is exemplified by the Domus Programme, which focuses on personalized service delivery.

These elements, as it came out from the interviews, form the backbone of successful IHRS. Understanding and addressing these five factors can significantly improve the chances of success for any new or expanding service.

A Resource for Future IHRS Providers

This collection of success cases aims to serve as a resource for entities interested in establishing or scaling an IHRS. While it does not promote any single business model or claim to be exhaustive, it aims to offer valuable insights and inspiration based on real-world examples. With a comprehensive database of success cases and a wide range of innovative approaches, EU Peers ensures that the knowledge gained from its Community of Practice is accessible and ready for replication across Europe.

As the European Union continues its transition to sustainable energy, the widespread adoption of IHRS will be critical in accelerating building renovations. Through initiatives like EU Peers, this transition is becoming a shared, community-driven process that leverages the power of collective knowledge and innovation.

You can explore the collection of IHRS success cases here.

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