2nd EPAH Practitioners Event - How Energy Renovation is Improving Housing in CEE Region

Buildings account for around 40% of energy consumed in the EU and are responsible for over one third over of the EU's energy-related GHG emissions; renovation costs are skyrocketing due to inflation, and energy prices are rising each year, causing an increase in poverty, marginalisation, and social exclusion for thousands of Europeans who are unable to afford decent housing or a decent living.  

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub invites practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders to join its 2nd Practitioners’ Event of 2025. 

This online and interactive event will bring together experts and local governments from across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) (e.g. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia)  to discuss how the energy renovation can improve housing situation in the CEE region. 

The older, inefficient building stock, with heating systems dependent on fossil fuels, is characteristic of the CEE Region. CEE renovation rates remain low, averaging approximately 1% annually. The CEE Region must accelerate its renovation rate to meet the EU's 2030 goals. To achieve this, collaboration between different stakeholders, exchanges of best practices, transfer of knowledge and experiences between countries, along side stable financial and policy support is necessary. 

Whether you are based in these Member States or working on initiatives relevant to their context, you are welcome to register and join the dialogue.

Programme

10:00 | Welcome 
Welcoming remarks by EPAH and DOOR (EPAH Antenna in Croatia)

10:10 – 10:30 | Introduction to the topic of eradicating energy poverty in the CEE REgion through renovation and improving housing 
Habitat for Humanity will introduce the housing and energy poverty landscape in the CEE region, highlighting how renovation can be a lever for social inclusion.

10:30 – 11:30 | Roundtable: Understanding vulnerability and  energy poverty in the context of energy renovation – examples of best practices in the Region 

Best practices and real-life examples from across the region:

• Diana Valentina Vîscan, AE3R Ploieşti-Prahova (Romania) (tbc)
• Katarina Trstenjak, Johan Štefan Institute (Slovenia) (tbc)
• Veronika Iwanowski, Wiener Wohnen (Austria) (tbc)
• Milena Agopyan, Energy Agency Plovdiv (Bulgaria) (tbc)

11:30 – 11:45 | Break 

11:45 – 12:15 | Participatory session

Topics of discussion will include:

• Multigenerational households - challenges for energy renovation (risks of vulnerability and energy poverty, best approaches and practices).
• Mechanisms that could be implemented to prevent an increase of rents for tenants after the renovation (renovations) and how to balance the needs of tenants and owners to prevent split initiatives.
• How to improve energy renovation programmes to target better vulnerable and energy poor households - especially in multi-appartment buildings.
• Sharing good practices.

12:15 – 12:30 | Participatory sessions conclusions 

12:30 | Closing session