Around three-quarters of Europe’s building stock is energy inefficient, but public budgets cannot close the gap alone. In Central and Eastern Europe, where most multi-family apartment buildings are privately owned, unlocking private finance is essential, and public-private partnerships are often the only way to remove the barriers, from fragmented homeowners’ associations to low-income owners who can’t access a loan, that keep renovation out of reach.

Developed as part of ComActivate, this report offers practical guidance on the public-private partnership models and financial frameworks that make energy-efficient renovation affordable, even for energy-poor households. It sets out the basic types of blended finance, from revolving funds and guarantee schemes to energy performance contracts and green mortgages, and maps the stakeholders needed to make them work. A dedicated section also examines the overlooked gender dimensions of renovation finance, including why women are more likely to engage with resource centres and how financing models could better serve them.

Seven case studies from across Europe, including Estonia’s pioneering revolving fund, Latvia’s energy performance contracting model, and Habitat for Humanity’s facilitation work in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, show these approaches in action and reveal what has made them succeed or fall short.

The report closes with an in-depth look at the potential for public-private partnerships in Bulgaria, Hungary and Lithuania, comparing how each country’s public subsidy schemes and private lending markets have developed, and offering concrete policy recommendations for unlocking further private investment.

Download the report to explore the full case studies, country analyses and recommendations.