LIFE Renew it has officially launched. Over the next 36 months, the project will pilot collective self-retrofit models in neighbourhoods across several EU countries, including France (Besançon), Spain (Centelles and Getafe) and Germany (Berlin), actively involving residents in renovating their homes to make deep renovation more affordable, inclusive and socially embedded. Across Europe, 34 million people face high energy bills and poor housing conditions, while municipalities and housing providers struggle to deliver renovation at the speed and scale required. LIFE Renew it addresses this challenge by combining technical expertise with residents’ active participation, linking climate action with social inclusion. Download the entire press release with LIFE Renew it objectives below.

Europe faces a major challenge: most buildings that will exist in 2050 are already built today , and the pace of energy renovation is far too slow to meet climate goals. The building sector accounts for around 40 % of energy consumption and one-third of CO₂ emissions , meaning deep renovation of the existing building stock is essential for decarbonisation and improving quality of life. To address this challenge, the LIFE Giga Regio Factory  project is advancing industrialised deep renovation solutions, building on the pioneering Energiesprong  approach to make net-zero retrofits faster, cheaper and more reliable  across Europe. Why Industrialised Renovation Matters Current renovation approaches are too slow, fragmented and costly to achieve Europe’s climate targets. The EU’s Renovation Wave  strategy aims to double annual renovation rates and upgrade 35 million inefficient buildings by 2030 , creating jobs and improving living standards. Industrialised deep renovation helps meet this goal by: Speeding up construction  with prefabricated components like façades, roofs and energy modules. Reducing disruption  for occupants. Improving quality and durability  with standardised processes. Lowering emissions  through optimised logistics, low-carbon materials and waste reduction. What Giga Regio Factory Does The project builds on Energiesprong’s  success — which scaled deep renovation markets in markets such as the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy — by focusing on aggregated demand, industrial solutions and regional scaling . Key elements include: Open-source Retrofit Tool An open-source digital tool helps housing organisations identify similar building types across portfolios so they can be grouped into homogeneous clusters suitable for industrialised renovation. This enables collective purchasing and planning  of deep renovation projects, lowering cost and complexity. Support for Construction Integrators The project maps and benchmarks hundreds of construction and industrial companies to develop complete industrialised net-zero renovation solutions . Training kits and resources help builders transition from bespoke projects to product-oriented catalogues of standardised solutions . Boosting Manufacturing Capacity By assessing industrial readiness and supporting business planning, Giga Regio Factory helps solution providers scale up production capacity — a critical step toward establishing regional “giga factories”  able to meet growing demand for deep renovation. Impact and Legacy Over the course of the project, Giga Regio Factory has supported renovation initiatives resulting in measurable CO₂ savings  and has generated tools and guidance that will continue to be used beyond the project’s end. Open-source tools and resources will be maintained by the Energiesprong Global Alliance , enabling replication and further innovation across Europe. The project also feeds into new EU-funded initiatives focused on collective buying schemes and district-scale renovation strategies. What’s Next? Giga Regio Factory’s approach — bringing together prefabrication, digital tools, training and organised demand  — is helping shift Europe’s renovation market toward scalable, affordable net-zero solutions. With continued collaboration among policymakers, regional developers, manufacturers and housing organisations, this model aims to unlock massive renovation volumes  needed for a climate-neutral building stock by 2050. This blog contains information from an original article of 15 December 2025 — by Yulia Firsova (GreenWin, on behalf of LIFE Giga Regio Factory).

Innovate, Experiment, Transform. Collaboration Driving Large-Scale Zero-Emission Renovation The second Offsite Renovation Academy  will take place in Paris on Tuesday, 3 February 2026 , hosted in collaboration with Energiesprong France, Ressorts, Bouygues Construction, Edera, and Eurac Research . This immersive, one-day event will bring together practitioners, innovators, and decision-makers to explore how collaboration and innovation can accelerate large-scale, zero-emission renovation through offsite and industrialised approaches. Participants can expect a dynamic mix of learning sessions, shared insights, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive discussions focused on the future of renovation. A key highlight of the day will be the live demonstration of a prototype façade installed on a modular building , featuring ATEX-certified building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) . The programme will also include a presentation of Scale One —a unique hybrid environment combining construction site and laboratory, designed to test and refine innovative construction methods before large-scale deployment. Programme overview Welcome coffee Introduction: Why innovation in renovation is essential to meet new European objectives Insights from real-life demonstrators: two cases from the INFINITE project  and a French reference project, focusing on integrated physical and digital technologies Scaling up and replication: the Energiesprong approach Accelerating innovation adoption: cooperation models across the value chain, and the importance of R&D and testing spaces prior to on-site implementation Networking lunch Guided tour of the pilot project, including Scale One and the full ATEX process Interactive session Practical information: Date:  3 February 2026 Location: Paris Language: The event will be held primarily in French, with some presentations in English.

Join Energiesprong DE for a free kick-off workshop offering a concise and practical introduction to serial renovation based on the Energiesprong principle. To meet climate targets, we need renovation solutions that are faster, simpler and more cost-effective than traditional approaches. Serial renovation using prefabricated elements, inspired by the Energiesprong approach, is a key part of this transition. During this kick-off workshop, you will gain a clear overview of serial renovation and learn what is needed to successfully start your own Energiesprong project – or, if you support the Energiesprong initiative, what you should know to contribute effectively. We will take you on a guided journey through the world of serial renovation, with plenty of space for questions and discussion. Topics we will cover: Motivation and objectives of the Energiesprong approach Current market developments and practical examples Performance requirements and the business case Roles and responsibilities of the different actors involved in serial renovation(including integrated solution providers and component manufacturers, housing organisations, tenants, and our role as a market development team) Funding and subsidy opportunities for serial renovation Practical information: Date:  27 January 2026 Format:  Online (via Zoom) Participation:  Free of charge Language: German Registration is now open, click here to register. After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email including the Zoom link. We look forward to welcoming you to this kick-off workshop and taking the first steps together towards scalable, net-zero renovation.

As the year comes to a close, we’re pleased to share the December edition of the Energiesprong Global Alliance newsletter  — bringing together insights, updates and reflections from across our growing international network. This edition captures what continues to drive the Energiesprong movement: collaboration across countries, practical learning from real projects, and a shared ambition to accelerate high-quality, net-zero renovation at scale. What’s inside this edition? People-centred renovation insights Reflections on approaches that put residents at the heart of renovation - from engagement and trust-building to making the benefits of renovation tangible and visible. Country developments and project updates News and lessons from Energiesprong programmes and partners across Europe and beyond, highlighting how solutions are being adapted to local contexts. Events, workshops and shared learning Takeaways from recent meetings, exchanges and hands-on workshops, showing how practitioners are learning together and strengthening collaboration across the value chain. A festive extra  🎄 To close the year on a lighter note, this edition also includes a self-composed Energiesprong Christmas strip comic  - a small story from our renovation world, told with a seasonal twist. The newsletter is part of our commitment to sharing knowledge openly , supporting our partners and community, and helping ideas travel faster across borders. 👉 Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/c696335475d8/energiesprong-global-alliance-newsletter-dec2025

This interactive workshop, hosted by Energiesprong DE, focuses on prefabricated building services (TGA) as a key enabler of the serial heat transition. It is aimed at market players who develop, plan or use industrial, scalable building services solutions that can be integrated into façade modules. Building on the successful collaboration that shaped the prefabricated façade systems catalogue in 2024/2025, we now take the next step: jointly developing cross-manufacturer, practical standards for serial building services. The outcomes will directly feed into the Serial TGA Product Catalogue. What to expect: Insights from realised projects Identification of key technical interfaces Consideration of housing providers’ and planners’ requirements Definition of reusable structures and data points Exploration of solution spaces for plug-and-heat systems, decentralised and integrated supply units The workshop is highly interactive. Instead of presentations, the focus is on co-creation, structured feedback and joint definitions – laying the foundation for scalable, standardised building services solutions. Practical information: Date:  Thursday, 5 February 2026 Time:  10:00–16:00 Location:  Berlin (further details to follow) The results will contribute directly to the Serial TGA Product Catalogue, planned for publication in Q2 2026, helping to accelerate the serial heat transition. Register now  and help shape the next industry standard

Help shape the future of serial renovation: Contribute your knowledge to sustainable facade solutions. Together for greater transparency and climate impact: With solution providers of facade modules, we examine the life cycle analysis (LCA) of various facade structures – data-based and practical. This workshop is aimed at anyone involved in developing, planning, or further developing prefabricated facade systems (planners, sustainability managers, construction professionals). The focus is on how CO₂-optimized design and material efficiency can lead to better, more climate-friendly solutions. What you can expect: Joint analysis of LCA results and environmental impacts Identification of CO₂ potentials in design and material selection Discussion of improvement options for serial timber, hybrid and alternative facade systems Exchange on circular approaches and new innovations The aim is to provide impetus for sustainable serial facade modules – modular and scalable. Practical information: Date:  Thursday, 19 February 2026 Time:  10:00–12:00 PM Location:  Online via Teams Register here !

LIFE Reno Tides & LIFE Cosme Reno Consortium Meeting in Rotterdam, November 2025 Cosme Reno and Reno Tides partners joined forces for two days of learning and collaborating What a blast we had in Manhattan on the Maas! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the Consortium Meeting on 12 and 13 November in Rotterdam. Your positivity, collaboration, and willingness to share made this meeting such a great succes. We're feeling energised and excited about the future as we continue working together on our project. Joint Consortium Meeting Of course collaboration extends beyond our projects, we also focused on building connections with other LIFE projects with similar goals. That is why Reno Tides and Cosme Reno partners teamed up in November, making our joint Consortium Meeting even more impactful. Reno Tides full recap: here Cosme Reno full recap: here

We’re excited to introduce LIFE Renew it , the latest Energiesprong Global Alliance initiative designed to make deep energy retrofits more affordable, inclusive and human centered across Europe. The project brings together 19 partners  from France, Spain, Germany, Latvia and the Netherlands, and officially kicked off in July 2025. What Renew it aims to change Deep retrofit can be costly and often inaccessible for households most affected by energy poverty — especially in collective housing. Renew-it tackles this challenge by piloting a “collective self-retrofit”  approach, where residents take on selected renovation tasks alongside professionals. This model: Reduces costs Builds local skills Strengthens communities Helps more households access warm, low-carbon homes What the project will deliver Between 2025 and 2028, partners will: Develop tools that identify which works residents can safely perform Create training programmes to empower communities to participate Strengthen the business case by exploring innovative financial levers Test the model across four pilot sites  (France, Spain x2, Germany), while Latvia and the Netherlands focus on replication If successful, the approach could reduce retrofit costs by up to 15%  and support new green jobs across Europe. Building on Energiesprong’s legacy Since 2010, Energiesprong has shown how decarbonized housing can transform comfort, affordability and carbon performance. Renew-it takes this further by placing people and communities at the centre of the process: making retrofit not only greener, but fairer and more accessible. Renew it is more than a project, it’s the start of a movement where people and communities lead the transition to warmer, healthier and more affordable homes. The coming years will show just how powerful that collective effort can be. Let’s Renew it, together. LIFE Renew it marks a bold step towards community-powered, affordable housing.

A LIFE Cosme Reno tool built to speed up renovation together For many SMEs working in renovation, keeping projects organised remains a challenge. Information often sits in different places, teams use different tools, and coordinating tasks across companies can take more time than the renovation work itself. Within the LIFE Cosme Reno project, we set out to make this easier. Together with SMEs in several partner countries, we developed a management portal that supports smoother collaboration and more integrated planning throughout the renovation process. The goal was not to introduce yet another digital tool, but to create something practical that reflects how SMEs actually work — whether they are on-site, in the office, or coordinating with partners. A workspace built around real renovation needs The portal brings together capabilities that help renovation teams manage projects more clearly and collaborate with fewer obstacles. These functions were shaped by SME feedback and focus on tasks that typically slow down renovation projects or complicate cooperation across teams. Key capabilities include: Document Management, BIM Viewer and 4D Planning These tools give teams a shared understanding of models, timelines and project information. They help structure collaboration and reduce the risk of miscommunication during renovation work. Simulations Teams can explore renovation scenarios and anticipate potential challenges, supporting better planning and reducing delays or failure costs. Integration with Autodesk Construction Cloud Companies already working within digital construction environments can connect their processes directly to the portal, keeping information consistent across tools. Data Integration via IDS Standard The portal supports efficient data exchange with prefabrication factories, which helps prepare renovation activities in a more coordinated and industrialised way. Field App The portal’s main functionalities are also available on-site, allowing fieldworkers to access information, document progress and share updates directly from the construction site. Together, these features create a practical cooperation tool that supports SMEs in managing renovation projects more easily and expanding their digital workflows. Strengthening SME collaboration The development of this portal is part of a wider effort within LIFE Cosme Reno to strengthen cooperation models between SMEs and enable them to deliver deep renovation more efficiently. Improving collaboration is essential for speeding up renovation workflows, enhancing quality and supporting Europe’s broader climate and energy goals. By providing a shared digital environment, the portal helps SMEs structure their work more clearly, coordinate across companies and take on more complex renovation tasks. Want to try the portal in your organisation? The portal is now ready for use in real project settings. We are looking for organisations that would like to explore the tool, provide feedback and see how it could support their renovation workflows. If your organisation is interested in testing the portal, please send us an email at cosmereno@buildify.nl . We will provide access and guide you through the first steps.

We're proud to announce the launch of Arec Reno (Agro Reno Empower Collective) - a new LIFE-funded project that brings together 12 partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and Ireland. © Angers/Podéliha – 2022 (Energiesprong FR)  Together, we’re taking district-wide home retrofit to the next level. How? By facilitating collective buy-in-schemes and improving market conditions for biobased deep renovation, powered by tools and models to enhance supply and demand. Ultimately, pilot projects activated in four countries will test the deployment of our strategy in real life. Building on the Energiesprong approach, and aligned with other LIFE projects such as Street HP Reno, Cosme Reno, and Reno Tides, the project will pilot large-scale renovation models that combine bio-based materials, inclusive workforce development, and innovative financing schemes.   Over the coming three years, four pilot sites in Italy, Ireland, France, and Germany will demonstrate new ways of scaling energy-efficient retrofits - aiming to complete at least 88 homes upgraded to net-zero energy standards. Arec Reno focuses on three domains of change Demand-side activation: simplifying renovation through standardised retrofit packages, One Stop Shop catalogues, online platforms, and demonstration roadshows to inspire collective homeowner action. Supply-side cooperation: equipping SMEs with the tools and training to work more collaboratively at a neighborhood scale and attract a more inclusive and skilled workforce. SMEs are encouraged to work with local, biobased materials and adopt circular practices. Market conditions: scaling up district-wide renovation using a diverse and innovative financing toolbox filled with financial instruments, such as Community Land Trusts, citizen crowdfunding, circular business models and energy performance guarantees.    To tie these domains together, the project will use gamification to engage new audiences and encourage active participation in the renovation process.   A collective step forward for climate-neutral living By combining bio- and agro-based materials, inclusive workforce development, and smarter financing, Arec Reno aims to make deep renovation faster, fairer, and more affordable. The project will establish four collective buy-in schemes embedding these innovations in four European countries - laying the groundwork for large-scale climate-neutral housing across Europe.   Project duration: 2025-2028 Countries involved: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and Ireland Funding: Co-funded by the EU LIFE Programme

Across Europe, millions of households still face the reality of cold homes and rising energy bills. The Energy Poverty Zero (EP0)  programme – co-funded by the EU LIFE initiative – is tackling this challenge head-on. Its mission: to end energy poverty through collective renovation at neighbourhood level, bringing together residents, local authorities, social housing providers, and industry partners to deliver affordable, net zero-ready homes. EP0 focuses on three key action areas: Target neighbourhoods for renovation  development of a free, open-source tool for analysing the housing stock, making it easier to identify buildings suitable for industrialised renovation. Engage residents  through a five-step mobilisation process, with freely available tools to involve residents in a collective renovation approach. Explore group purchasing models  that make deep renovation more accessible through shared legal, financial, and technical frameworks. Together, these approaches transform vulnerable districts into resilient, low-carbon communities. To help replicate and scale these approaches, EP0 has published a practical new guide:  “10 Commandments of Collective Buying Schemes” This concise and insightful document distils lessons from pioneering collective retrofit projects across Europe – including People Powered Retrofit  in the UK, La Roue  in Belgium, and Energiesprong  projects in France and the Netherlands. It captures what truly makes collective renovation work in practice: Find the right people, not the perfect homes  – start with motivated early adopters. Secure local authority support  to build trust and ensure quality. Work in waves  – start small, then scale up. Align subsidies and financing  to make retrofits affordable. Support local contractors  to meet growing grouped demand. And above all: make retrofit engaging, social, and inspiring  – a community journey, not a technical exercise. The 10 Commandments conclude with a clear message: the future of renovation lies in strong local governance, standardised retrofit packages, and collaboration between citizens, authorities, and experts. When we treat renovation as a collective sport, we can accelerate progress – making deep, high-quality retrofits affordable and achievable for everyone. Read the full report: Download the “10 Commandments of Collective Buying Schemes” (PDF)