On 24 June, partners, stakeholders and renovation frontrunners came together at the I-Factory in Lyon for the final event of two European LIFE projects: Cosme Reno and Street HP Reno.
And yes, it was hot. Very hot. But even in the middle of a Lyon heatwave, the energy stayed high. If anything, the heat made the relevance of this work even more tangible: better renovation is not only about reducing energy use, but also about creating homes that are more comfortable, resilient and ready for a changing climate. The event brought together a strong mix of external stakeholders: European partners, housing associations, local authorities, construction companies, funding bodies and other renovation experts. They all shared one question: how can we cooperate better to make high-performance renovation happen faster, smarter and at greater scale?
From project results to sector movement
The event was organised as part of the wider work of Energiesprong France, while also marking the final event of both Cosme Reno and Street HP Reno. That combination gave the day a strong mix of French market context, European project results and practical exchange.
Throughout the programme, participants explored the results and lessons developed through Cosme Reno, Street HP Reno and related Energiesprong initiatives. The programme included workshops and discussions on topics such as neighbourhood-scale renovation, group heat pump purchase schemes, off-site construction, lean and BIM and offsite processes, training for renovation professionals, financing models and cooperation between housing providers.
These different topics showed how broad the challenge really is. Better renovation is not only about one technology, one project or one type of stakeholder. It requires strong local engagement, a market that can deliver, financial models that work, and cooperation across the full value chain.
Two projects, two routes towards better renovation
Cosme Reno and Street HP Reno approached this wider challenge from different angles, but with a shared belief: cooperation is essential if we want to move from individual projects to scalable solutions.
Cosme Reno focused on strengthening cooperation between SMEs and other actors in the renovation value chain. The project developed tools, training and working methods that help smaller companies work together more effectively and deliver better renovation solutions.
Street HP Reno looked at another crucial part of the puzzle: how to support households and neighbourhoods in switching to cleaner, more efficient heating. Through collective heat pump purchasing schemes and local pilot activities, the project explored how trusted local partners, clear communication and a step-by-step process can help residents take action.
Together, the projects show that better renovation depends on both sides of the transition: a market that is ready to deliver, and communities that are supported to move forward.
A well-received final event
The final event was well received by participants, with lively workshops, valuable discussions and plenty of exchange between local and European stakeholders. The mix of practical project results and broader sector reflection made the day relevant not only for the project partners, but also for organisations working on the next generation of renovation approaches.
The informal networking afterwards gave people the chance to continue the conversation, meet new partners and explore how the tools, insights and cooperation models developed in these projects can live on.
The work continues until October
Although the final event has taken place, Cosme Reno and Street HP Reno are not finished yet. Both projects are now entering their final three months, with several interesting reports, tools and practical resources still coming up.
For example, Cosme Reno will share more insights on SME cooperation models, training materials and tools that support collaborative renovation. Street HP Reno will continue to share lessons from its pilot projects and collective heat pump purchasing schemes.
These final outputs will help make the case for better cooperation in renovation even stronger — not only for the project partners, but for a wide range of external stakeholders across Europe: from SMEs, housing providers and local authorities to financiers, policymakers and renovation professionals.
So keep an eye on the Cosme Reno and Street HP Reno webpages in the coming months. More results, lessons and tools will be shared before the projects officially come to an end in October.
Because if we want better renovation, we need better cooperation. And these projects still have plenty more to share.
