The EU-funded project HORIS presents the three new platforms, now live on the websites of national consumer organizations, designed to guide consumers through their renovation journey with confidence.
HORIS was created in response to the rising energy costs affecting millions of Europeans in recent years, hurting quality of life and pushing more people into energy poverty. In this context, consumers need support to cut their energy use and bills, make informed choices, learn how and where to begin renovations, and find reliable professionals. Home renovation and energy upgrades not only help households save, but also move Europe closer to its sustainability targets.
Consumer organizations come in, playing a key role in helping people, especially in countries like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, where they’ve earned public trust over decades.
OCU, Altroconsumo and Deco Proteste have teamed up with research centers, certification experts and consultancies to launch these three tools, each a tailored one-stop-shop for their country.
The model is inspired by a platform created over 10 years ago in the Netherlands by De Groene Grachten, and since scaled to Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium (Flanders). It’s a proven approach that helps activate homeowners to adopt sustainable renovation measures, with real-life benefits for building users.
The new platforms simplify the process, offering access to verified professionals, clear steps for renovation, and more. HORIS created a network of approved home renovation practitioners to help homeowners make necessary upgrades.
