Learning from the field: analysing foreign experience feedbacks to enrich the development of a programme for the renovation of multifamily housing in Geneva

Local authorities or other local stakeholders are increasingly involved in the implementation of energy efficiency policies, and in particular for the renovation of buildings. They can have more flexibility in their action plans, compared to national institutions. They often take the lead to experiment new approaches and are therefore key sources of policy innovation. However their means are smaller and they encounter difficulties in transforming pilot projects into large dissemination schemes. This paper presents a detailed review of 9 local and/or innovative initiatives aimed at boosting the renovation of dwellings, and in particular of multifamily housing, mostly in France, but also in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This sample is not meant to be representative. The case studies were selected based on the interest they have raised in other local authorities or countries, and to have a diversity of approaches: from tailored support requiring a strong involvement of the homeowners to turnkey renovation services. The analysis is structured according to the support offered along the customer journey: 1) general information; 2) targeted technical advice; 3) financial engineering; 4) preparation of the works and selection of the professionals; 5) implementation of the works; 6) validation and follow-up. While in the past the initiatives tended to focus on some of these steps, the recent initiatives increasingly cover the whole journey. The case studies bring interesting experience feedback for each of these steps. Most of these schemes aimed at a renovation rate between one to ten thousand dwellings per year. The achievements vary and highlight key lessons learnt for experience sharing. This study was indeed made for the Public Energy Utility of Geneva and Geneva Cantonal Office of Energy in order to feed thoughts for the further deployment of an energy renovation programme.