Rural Energy Efficiency Roadmap (REER) for the Energy Renovation of Family Houses of Households Experiencing Energy Poverty by RENOVERTY

Europe’s aging building stock presents an urgent challenge: 35% of buildings are over 50 years old, and 75% remain energy inefficient, contributing to 40% of the EU’s energy use and 36% of CO₂ emissions. Rural areas face unique vulnerabilities that intensify energy poverty. Physical isolation, high poverty rates, and older, inefficient building stocks all contribute to a heightened vulnerability in rural regions. Unlike urban areas, rural households are often situated in outdated, energy-inefficient homes built before modern thermal standards were introduced in the 1970s. Many of these households also rely on high-carbon fossil fuels such as coal, heating oil, and biomass due to limited energy options.

The Rural Renovation Roadmaps are a practical guide designed to make energy-efficient renovation accessible for rural communities across the EU created under the EU LIFE project RENOVERTY. As energy efficiency emerges as a key policy tool to address energy poverty, RENOVERTY’s roadmaps are helping rural homeowners improve living conditions, while contributing to the EU’s ambitious climate goals. 

These roadmaps are developed in close collaboration with Local Action Groups in seven regions, in Sveta Nedelja & Žumberak (Croatia), Tartu (Estonia), Bükk-Mak & Somló-Marcalmente-Bakonyalja Leader (Hungary), Zasavje (Slovenia), Parma (Italy), Coimbra (Portugal), and Osona (Spain). While the technical documents provide focused guidance for individual households, the comprehensive roadmaps are tailored to serve the broader needs of stakeholders. They respond to the unique challenges faced by rural areas, which are often overlooked by mainstream energy efficiency initiatives. They offer clear, practical guidance on technical, legislative, and financial options, simplifying the renovation process for energy-poor households. 

By tackling barriers such as complex administrative requirements, limited funding, and a lack of qualified professionals, the roadmaps enable rural homeowners to plan renovations tailored to their specific needs and budget.