04 November 2025
Bilbao Campus
On 4 November, the University is hosting the launch meeting of the European project RenoVisor, an EU-funded initiative aimed at accelerating the sustainable renovation of buildings and contributing to the continent’s decarbonisation goals by increasing the rate of energy-efficient refurbishment.
Over two days, partners from across Europe are meeting at Deusto, the host institution, to set the course for this ambitious collaboration coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). Over the next four years, the consortium will develop and test innovative digital tools that will facilitate the energy renovation of buildings, making it simpler, fairer and more accessible to all.
"This project will help increase the renovation rate by facilitating the understanding of the benefits and trade-offs of renovations," said Noah Pflugradt, project coordinator at FZJ.
To achieve the EU's ambitious climate and energy efficiency targets, the rate of building renovation must grow significantly. However, many owners still face barriers such as lack of information, complexity in decision-making or uncertainty about economic benefits.
RenoVisor tackles these challenges by developing three user-friendly digital tools — aimed at single-family homes, homeowners’ associations and energy communities — which combine advanced building simulations, human behaviour analysis and participatory decision-making models. These tools will help users design renovation plans tailored to their technical, financial and social needs, while also providing consensus mechanisms for shared buildings.
One of the project’s priorities is to address energy and transport poverty, ensuring that vulnerable households have access to affordable solutions that improve their energy efficiency and mobility.
The RenoVisor tools will be tested in more than 10,000 households across Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands, providing real-world insights into different social and climatic contexts. In doing so, the project aims to guide citizens from awareness to action, tangibly increasing the number of successful renovation decisions.
During the meeting in Bilbao, the partners will work together on the design of the tools, user engagement strategies and pilot planning. The sessions include co-design workshops, working groups and discussions on the main challenges in each area of work.
“The world doesn’t need another web tool created by scientists that only scientists can use. We want to do better and bridge the gap between research and real-world application,” said Katharina Rieck, a member of the FZJ coordination team.
About RenoVisor
RenoVisor is a four-year project (1 October 2025 - 30 September 2029) funded by the HORIZON EUROPE - Climate, Energy and Mobility programme. Its goal is to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s building stock by empowering families, homeowners’ associations and entire neighbourhoods to make informed, participatory decisions on building renovation and the adoption of clean energy.
Further information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101233874
