As Estonia advances the renovation of its building stock to meet its 2030 and 2050 climate targets, the country’s western island regions face additional challenges arising from their geographical isolation, higher construction costs and limited access to specialised services. In an interview for the Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR) initiative, Uku Loide, Energy Efficiency and Project Manager at the Estonian Islands Energy Agency (EISEA), explains how citizen-led renovation can provide an effective response to these challenges.

The project is working with communities in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, where several apartment associations are collaborating to develop joint energy renovation strategies. Planned measures include improvements to insulation, heating and ventilation systems, the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage solutions. However, the approach goes beyond technical aspects: it also aims to strengthen community participation, facilitate collective decision-making and build trust among residents.

The initiative seeks to demonstrate that community-led renovation models can be particularly valuable in rural and island territories, where the energy transition is closely linked to local development, social cohesion and the ability to maintain vibrant and attractive communities for future generations.

_{Source of the picture: Citizen-led Renovation (EISEA)}