A new programme aimed at supporting the comprehensive renovation of apartment buildings and strengthening community cooperation will be launched on the islands of Western Estonia. The initiative is led by the Estonian Islands Energy Agency (EISEA) and funded by the European Commission’s Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR) programme with a total budget of €460,000. The programme will run until 31 December 2028.
Unlike conventional approaches, the programme does not focus on renovating individual buildings separately but instead supports several buildings within the same area at once. This means that apartment associations located in the same neighbourhood will collaborate during the preparation phase by commissioning joint analyses, sharing knowledge, and developing solutions that can be applied across multiple buildings.
Such approach is new not only in Estonia but also in the wider European context. In practice, the renovation of apartment buildings often stalls at the preparation stage — particularly when it comes to technical analyses, selecting renovation solutions, and planning financing. The programme aims to make this stage simpler and more transparent for local communities.
During the project, technical and energy efficiency assessments will be carried out for apartment buildings in each participating area. Based on these assessments, possible renovation solutions will be developed and their impact on energy consumption, indoor climate and costs will be evaluated. In addition, financial analyses will be prepared to provide apartment associations with an overview of investment needs, cost-effectiveness and potential financing sources.
According to Uku Loide, energy efficiency consultant and project manager at the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, the most challenging part of apartment building renovation is often getting started.
“The programme focuses on apartment associations that want to renovate their buildings but face a complex preparation phase involving technical analyses, assessments and financing planning. Our aim is to support associations throughout the renovation process and make what is often a complicated and bureaucratic journey clearer and more manageable,” Loide said.
He added that the programme will also help gather practical experience and develop an effective approach that could later be applied in other regions of Estonia where similar apartment buildings require renovation.
Ivo Jaanisoo, Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Climate, emphasised the broader significance of the initiative:
“Across Estonia, including on the islands, many apartment buildings were constructed according to standardized designs. This creates a good opportunity to develop renovation solutions that can later be replicated in many buildings. Most of these buildings face similar challenges, ranging from safety and heating costs to indoor climate quality and the durability of building finishes. It is also significant that Estonia’s islands have been selected to participate in this programme.”
In addition to technical preparation, the programme also supports cooperation within local communities. In each participating area, local facilitators will be trained to help mediate information between residents, apartment associations and specialists and to support decision-making processes.
Renovated buildings will provide residents with improved indoor climate, lower energy costs and, in the long term, a more sustainable living environment.
The Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR) initiative of the European Commission supports community-led renovation projects by providing technical, financial, and organisational assistance to help neighbourhoods carry out comprehensive and systematic building renovation.
The Estonian Islands Energy Agency (EISEA) is a social enterprise established by the municipalities of the Western Estonian islands, the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa Business Associations, the Saare Development Centre and Tallinn University of Technology. The agency operates on the islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, Kihnu and Ruhnu. EISEA’s mission is to support local governments, communities and businesses in developing and implementing projects that promote sustainable energy use and production while helping to reduce carbon emissions. The agency provides support both in the development of ideas and in the preparation and implementation of projects.
