Policy Recommendations
The RENOINVEST policy recommendations provide practical guidance for improving the financing and implementation of sustainable building renovation in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia. Developed through policy analysis, national and international roundtables, thematic working groups and pilot activities, the recommendations address key regulatory, financial, institutional and market barriers. They support the transition from short-term, grant-dependent approaches towards stable, scalable and market-oriented renovation frameworks.
The documents below present country-specific measures, shared cross-border recommendations and actions supporting the continued uptake of RENOINVEST results.
RENOINVEST National Action Plans for Austria, Hungary and Slovenia
The three National Action Plans developed within the RENOINVEST project provide structured, expert-based recommendations to accelerate sustainable building renovation and mobilise private investment in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia.
Developed over two years through in-depth analysis, national roundtables and thematic working groups, the Action Plans identify key national barriers that hinder large-scale renovation and propose concrete, feasible measures to address them. A strong focus lies on improving financing conditions, reducing regulatory obstacles and strengthening professional capacity and awareness with the objective of moving beyond grant-dependent schemes towards stable, market-oriented investment frameworks.
The National Action Plans build on the comprehensive analytical and practical work carried out within the project. They are grounded in the findings of D2.1 – Policy Context and Market Capacities for Sustainable Building Renovations, which assessed regulatory and market conditions in the three countries; the insights collected in D2.2 – Best Practice Handbook on Sustainable Building Renovations, presenting renovation examples; and the practical lessons derived from D5.1 – Documentation of Pilot Cases, analysing selected real renovation projects in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia.
Each Action Plan is tailored to the specific regulatory, financial and market context of the respective country, while contributing to shared European climate and energy objectives for 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Austrian Action Plan
The Austrian Action Plan focuses on strengthening the regulatory and financial framework for large-scale renovation. Core elements include adapting building codes to better accommodate renovation projects, establishing a national housing investment bank to mobilise EU and private capital, facilitating contracting models, and expanding One-Stop-Shop advisory services across the country. Strong emphasis is also placed on targeted financial incentives, step-by-step renovation models and coordinated awareness campaigns to increase renovation uptake.
Hungarian Action Plan
The Hungarian Action Plan prioritises the creation of a stable, long-term financing ecosystem for deep renovation, particularly in the residential and municipal sectors. Key elements include launching a predictable financing scheme that combines grants, private funds and commercial loans, strengthening condominium financial planning and technical screening requirements, enabling Energy Performance Contracting/ Energy Service Company mechanisms for municipalities, and developing national databases and renovation passports to reduce risk perception among financiers. The plan also calls for nationwide One-Stop-Shops and targeted awareness measures to unlock large-scale investment.
Slovenian Action Plan
The Slovenian Action Plan addresses structural and institutional barriers to sustainable renovation. Central proposals include establishing a dedicated inter-ministerial body to coordinate renovation policy, simplifying administrative procedures, improving data management systems, and strengthening financial support mechanisms for commercial banks and innovative business models. The plan also emphasises step-by-step renovation approaches, support for sustainable construction solutions, and comprehensive public awareness campaigns to increase market confidence and renovation rates.
Together, the three National Action Plans provide country-specific yet complementary pathways to accelerate sustainable real estate financing and scale up deep renovation across Austria, Hungary and Slovenia. The RENOINVEST team would greatly appreciate the support of national stakeholders in advancing these efforts and warmly invites institutions and organisations to express their commitment through Letters of Endorsement to help strengthen the implementation and policy impact of the proposed measures.
You can access the full set of RENOINVEST policy recommendations, including the National Action Plans avaliable here.
You can also access the country-specific versions separately:
RENOINVEST National Policy Briefs
The RENOINVEST National Policy Briefs translate the project’s findings into concise and actionable recommendations for policymakers, public authorities, financial institutions and other stakeholders involved in sustainable building renovation.
Separate Policy Briefs were prepared for Austria, Hungary and Slovenia to reflect the regulatory, financial, institutional and market conditions of each country. They highlight priority measures for improving access to finance, strengthening project preparation, supporting advisory structures and creating more predictable conditions for long-term renovation investment.
The Policy Briefs complement the National Action Plans by presenting the most important recommendations in an accessible format that supports policy development, stakeholder dialogue and practical implementation.
The complete document of RENOINVEST National Policy Briefs is available here.
The country-specific versions are also available separately:
Cross-Border Recommendations for Austria, Hungary and Slovenia
The RENOINVEST Cross-Border Recommendations present shared priorities and transferable solutions for improving sustainable renovation financing across Austria, Hungary and Slovenia.
Drawing on the project’s international roundtables, stakeholder consultations and exchanges related to the National Action Plans, the document highlights good practices in renovation financing and advisory support. It addresses common challenges related to legislation, financing instruments, project preparation, awareness raising and knowledge transfer.
The recommendations demonstrate how stronger cooperation between countries can support the wider uptake of viable and scalable financing solutions for sustainable building renovation across Central Europe.
The full Cross-Border Recommendations document is available here.
