In 2023, 41 million EU citizens faced energy poverty, unable to afford proper heating due to a cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy costs, particularly affecting Central and Eastern Europe. The ComAct project aims to combat this, focusing on engaging communities, adapting financing tools, and optimising technical solutions for multi-family apartment buildings (MFABs).
The ComAct project identified 'building level energy poverty' to address specific issues in privately-owned MFABs, stressing the need for coordinated action within building communities. Local one-stop-shops play a vital role in engaging homeowners and associations, as seen in successful initiatives in Lithuania, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, resulting in energy savings and increased comfort. EU policies and financing mechanisms are discussed to align with the realities on the ground, emphasising the importance of capacity-building and continuous investment to tackle energy poverty effectively.
