European CommissionConference Building Together, Brussels 2025 - Steinbeis leads Communication and Eventmanagement
On 19 November 2025, the Support service for Citizen-led renovation (CLR) hosted the “Building Together” event, organised by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum as communications and events partner. Communities, experts, and policymakers gathered to celebrate progress, address challenges, and set the stage for Phase III.
The support service for citizen-led renovation is an EU-funded support service for energy communities to establish citizens as central actors in the renovation of buildings. Energy communities are associations of citizens who, for example, jointly invest in power generation facilities and jointly generate, store and use electricity and/or heat. They are seen as important catalysts for the energy transition.
Phase II expanded CLR’s impact across Europe, supporting dozens of communities with tailored technical, legal, financial, and communication guidance. This hands-on approach empowers local actors to overcome barriers and build lasting capacity for collective renovation. The event highlighted CLR’s evolution from isolated pilots to a strong, interconnected network ready for large-scale replication.
Discussions revealed persistent hurdles: diverse building types, fragmented legal frameworks, high upfront costs, and the need to engage citizens beyond early adopters. Yet these challenges are opportunities; CLR’s flexible, community-driven model delivers tailored solutions and fosters local ownership.
Success stories showcased practical tools like renovation handbooks, financial templates, and outreach materials, alongside capacity-building workshops and mentoring. SPOCs (Single Points of Contact) proved vital for trust and coordination.
Looking ahead, participants called for stronger policy integration, legal clarity, and stable funding. As CLR moves into Phase III, the focus is on scaling up through support networks, advocacy, and lasting structures. The message was clear: citizens are ready to lead Europe’s renovation wave, if they have the right support and resources.
„Europe’s renovation wave will not succeed with technology alone; it needs trusted local coalitions and strong coordination. The CLR support service has shown that energy communities can organise, finance and deliver renovations when support reflects real-life constraints, mixed building typologies, fragmented rules and upfront costs. With Steinbeis Europa Zentrum successfully supporting CLR communication and outreach events, CLR gained visibility, coherence and momentum. Thanks to the CLR support service, we are proud to have helped communities move beyond early adopters and build lasting capacity through mentoring, practical tools and dedicated Single Points of Contact.“
Jan Bormans, Th!nk E, Coordinator of the Support Service for Citizen led Renovation (CLR)Contact us!
- Phone: +49 711 2524 2035
- +49 1520 934 44 25
- Email: hanna.schaefer@steinbeis-europa.de
Contact us!
- Phone: +49 711 2524 2035
- +49 1520 934 44 25
- Email: hanna.schaefer@steinbeis-europa.de
