Achieving climate neutrality in European cities by 2050 has become a cornerstone of the European Green Deal and is a key policy objective in mitigating the effects of climate change. Central to this is the recognition that housing accounts for more than half of the total energy consumption of buildings. Against this background, the EU Commission’s Renovation Wave strategy was launched. This is primarily aimed at upgrading the building stock to enhance energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as promoting sustainable investment in urban landscapes.

However, there are still major gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms and resources needed to achieve the goals of the Renovation Wave. In particular, there is a lack of knowledge about available funding opportunities and the policy frameworks implemented at various levels of government to mobilize EU funds and involve citizens in energy-efficient renovation of buildings. Furthermore, there remains a notable lack of empirical evidence on the effectiveness of EU funding mechanisms as incentives for homeowners to support the Renovation Wave.

The NetZeroCities project was initiated to fill these knowledge gaps and provide a more solid foundation for climate action in urban contexts. At its core, the project seeks to develop a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of both existing and emerging financing opportunities specifically tailored to support the energy renovation of the housing stock. Using interdisciplinary research methods and engaging with stakeholders across levels of government, academia, and industry, NetZeroCities aims to provide valuable insights into the complex landscape of funding initiatives for the energy renovation of residential buildings.

With its multifaceted approach, the NetZeroCities project aims to shed light on the diverse array of funding mechanisms available to support energy retrofitting initiatives, ranging from public subsidies to revolving loans. By evaluating the effectiveness and scalability of these financing instruments, the project will identify best practices and develop policy recommendations to optimize the allocation of resources and maximize the impact of climate finance interventions.

The NetZeroCities project makes an important contribution to the understanding of public funding and its role in the transition to a more sustainable and resilient urban future. Bridging the gap between research and practice, the project aims to unlock the full potential of EU funding as a catalyst for transformative change in European cities, ultimately paving the way for a greener, more equitable, and climate-resilient urban landscape by 2050 and beyond.

ITAS is responsible for the successful delivery of the project, including management, development of innovative research methods, and evaluation and implementation of research results. An important milestone is the creation of a roadmap of existing public funding (at the EU level, as well as across state levels in Germany with a focus on Baden Württemberg).

Tel.: +49 721 608-22384
E-mail