How a personal mission transformed into a replicable model for performance-based building renovation
Deep energy renovation in residential buildings is still often seen as an elusive goal but it doesn’t have to be. One initiative, initially born out of frustration and guilt, has grown into a model that is accelerating energy efficiency through long-term thinking, performance contracting, and user-centric methodologies.
This article captures the essence of a Who-is-Who session with the founder of Ēkubirojs, a one-stop-shop (OSS) service designed to scale up building renovation in Eastern Europe. It highlights how structured financial models, community engagement, and digital tools can drive systemic change across the EU.
From Frustration to Framework
The origin story of Ēkubirojs is personal. Driving past neglected buildings after constructing a resort in Bulgaria, the founder wrestled with the question of how to renovate older housing stock at scale. Inspiration came in 2012 from a company called Renesco, which offered 20-year building renovation contracts to housing owners, covering energy savings and common area upgrades.
This inspired Ēkubirojs mission: to urgently scale up decarbonisation by focusing not just on energy efficiency, but on financing, long-term contracting, and policy advocacy.
Tackling the Renovation Paradox
A critical early realisation from user research in 2014 turned assumptions on their head. Contrary to expectations, the study found that building owners were rationally avoiding renovations, because they often didn’t work or failed to deliver comfort and cost-effectiveness.
This led to the development of a different approach:
- Prioritising deep energy efficiency first, rather than simply relying on renewables
- Advocating for ventilation and comfort as integral to energy efficiency
- Introducing long-term contracts of 20–30 years, now accepted in Latvia
Ēkubirojs Multifaceted Role
Ēkubirojs today is a:
- Policy advocate, educating stakeholders from municipalities to the EU Parliament
- Administrator of energy performance contracts
- Mediator between building owners and service providers
- Researcher producing user-journey maps, impact evaluations, and practical tools
The organisation works actively within networks like EU Peers, Renovate Europe, and national EPC coalitions, emphasising that collaboration is the only way to counterbalance the well-funded fossil fuel lobbies.
Tools for Scaling Renovation
Ēkubirojs has developed and contributed to several tools and platforms:
- Sunshine Platform: A digital ecosystem guiding buildings from data collection to performance monitoring throughout the contract lifecycle
- User Journey Maps: Created via in-person engagement (e.g., city tent outreach) to understand decisions at granular levels
- Knowledge Hub: A cooperative platform co-developed with EU Peers for shared learning
In Latvia, buildings renovated through Ēkubirojs approach showed better outcomes compared to standard EU-funded projects, thanks to continuous feedback and adaptation.
A Replicable Model with Measurable Impact
Ēkubirojs model has already been replicated in countries like Poland, supported the development of OSS services in other regions, and contributed to multiple Horizon 2020 projects.
Their conversion rate, the percentage of buildings that go from first contact to full renovation is currently 9%, which is considered a success in this challenging field.
Call to Action
To scale renovation, policy makers must:
- Support long-term contracting frameworks
- Invest in OSS structures with mediation, digital tools, and user journey expertise
- Recognize comfort, health, and usability as integral to energy performance
- Back networks like EU Peers that provide essential collective advocacy
To join Baltic Community of Practice get in touch with the EU PEERS Baltic platform through EU Peers website or by writing to nicholas.stancioff@ekubirojs.lv. Collaboration across borders helps us address shared challenges more effectively.
