New Guidelines for local and regional Authorities on deep renovation

Deep renovation is more than just reducing energy bills—it’s about building resilience, optimising investment, and ensuring long-term sustainability. A new report from the CROSS project, coordinated by REGEA, provides comprehensive guidelines to help local and regional authorities lead the way.

The CROSS approach focuses on integrated, cost-effective strategies for public building renovation, combining technical, financial, and environmental perspectives.

📌 Key insights from the report include:

• Holistic energy planning: Ensure that at least 75% of energy used comes from renewable sources, like solar panels, district heating, and smart monitoring systems.
• Long-term financial thinking: Adopt a 20-year cost assessment to weigh operational costs and return on investment.
• Circular renovation: Use reusable, non-toxic materials to promote the circular economy and improve indoor health.
• Structural upgrades: In seismic areas, include reinforcement to ensure energy upgrades also enhance safety.
• Smart digital tools: Leverage technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM) for effective planning, performance tracking, and integration of energy measures.
• Access to EU funding: Learn how to align renovation plans with criteria from InvestEU, ERDF, and RRF to unlock large-scale financial support.

The report also highlights the One-Stop Shop (OSS) model tested in Croatia, where CROSS supports 88 local authorities through a regional OSS offering technical, financial, legal, and procurement services—a model aimed at replication across Croatia and beyond.
Learn More about the CROSS project