The Support service for Citizen-led renovation (CLR) is an EU initiative aiming to empower existing and prospective energy communities to put citizens in the driver’s seat for energy-saving renovation projects. Our support service for four selected pilots in Ireland, Portugal, Belgium and Bulgaria is underway to strengthen community building and assist in replicating programmes for energy renovations of buildings, including insulation, new technical systems and installing renewables.
Phase I assisted four pilot projects in overcoming financial, legal, technical, and informational barriers to deliver sustainable residential buildings.
In Phase II, CLR enhances its tailored support services for selected Pilots, Learners, and Followers by providing various levels of assistance. This includes one-on-one sessions, webinars, workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and community-driven events aimed at strengthening local capacities and replicating successful energy renovation models.
Building on this foundation, Phase III of the Support service is scaling up by establishing a network of ten organisations (energy agencies, one-stop-shops for home renovations, energy communities, associations...) to support widespread citizen-led renovation. With a stronger infrastructure and an expanded support network, CLR aims to empower more citizens and communities to drive the transition toward energy-efficient and resilient buildings across Europe.
Latest News
As part of the joint workshop “Empowering Communities Through Inclusive Renovation and Regional Sustainability,” CLR joined forces with FORTESIE and RENOVERTY to highlight the transformative power of citizen-driven energy renovation across Europe.
The Support service for Citizen-led renovation has launched a new section on its website titled “Inspiring Cases”, highlighting successful community-driven energy renovation projects from across the EU.
At the 23rd European Week of Regions and Cities, the participatory lab “Empowering Communities Through Inclusive Renovation and Regional Sustainability” brought together policymakers, practitioners, and citizens to explore how building renovation can drive social inclusion.
Join us on 19 November 2025 at the iconic Comic Art Museum in Brussels for “Building Together: Lessons & Learnings from the Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation”—the high-level final event of the Citizen-led Renovation (CLR) initiative.
Citizen-led renovation initiatives are supporting Dublin in its goal of retrofitting 500,000 homes and reducing energy consumption.
