Introduction
Building renovation passports (RPs) are gaining strategic relevance as the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) positions them as a practical instrument to accelerate deep renovations across Europe. Beyond compliance, RPs can function as an actionable decision-support product: they translate building diagnostics into a staged renovation roadmap that supports households, professionals, and policymakers in sequencing measures, avoiding lock-in effects, and tracking progress over time.
To operationalise this ambition, the OneClickRENO project has developed an RP scheme aligned with the EPBD framework, including the indicator domains set out in Article 12 and Annexe VIII, and conceived as an evolution of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The model reflects a core implementation reality: renovations are often delivered in several stages, under financial and organisational constraints, and therefore require a structured information backbone. OneClickRENO operationalises this through a two-part structure: (i) a baseline snapshot of the current building status and (ii) a future-oriented staged roadmap—so that each renovation step can be documented using consistent indicator domains (energy performance, financial assessment and other domains), enabling comparability across stages and progressive evolution as new assessments become available.
In addition to the scheme, OneClickRENO is developing a digital passport generation module in pilot contexts (Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain). The module is being integrated into existing pilot tools to produce estimated RPs, consistent with Article 12 of the EPBD, which requires complementary digital tools to simulate a draft, simplified passport.
Finally, the model was informed and tested through a two-pronged approach: EU-level homeowner insights (via a UIPI survey) and context-adapted validation activities in the project pilots.
From policy requirement to an implementable RP scheme
The revised EPBD requires Member States to define and introduce RP schemes by May 2026. This implies translating a regulatory concept into a consistent assessment framework; in this context, the OneClickRENO scheme (or data model) is positioned as a technical reference to support that rollout.
The definition of the RPs and the indicators that they must and may contain are outlined in Article 12 and Annexe VIII of EPBD (Directive (EU) 2024/1275), respectively. Annexe VIII provides an overview of mandatory and optional indicators to be included in the RP. The OneClickRENO data model is fully compliant with these requirements, incorporating both optional and mandatory data.
In the OneClickRENO project, RPs are conceived as an evolution of the EPCs. The EPBD specifies that RPs may be issued alongside EPCs and can be drawn up jointly by the same expert (43), and when issued jointly, the RP may replace the recommendations section of the EPC (Article 19). In addition, Annexe VIII indicates that the RP must also consider, to the extent possible, the information already contained in the EPC. This reinforces the idea that the RP can act as a natural extension of the EPC.
Furthermore, the RP developed in OneClickRENO goes beyond the scope of a traditional EPC recommendation section, offering a more comprehensive and integrated view of the building by incorporating multiple types of assessments (energy, financial, environmental, etc.).
According to the EPBD, passports must be digital, printable, and prepared by certified experts following an on-site assessment. Upon issuance, a discussion between the expert and building owner is recommended to outline optimal renovation steps towards zero-emission building status by 2050.
Data model architecture
The data model developed within the OneClickRENO project provides the underlying structure for generating building RPs in a systematic, comprehensive, and user-focused manner. It defines the key entities, attributes, and relationships required to represent both the current state of a building and its potential renovation pathway over time. In doing so, it is intended to serve as a common reference for data collection, exchange, and interpretation across different tools, user types, and national contexts.
The OneClickRENO RP data model builds on the existing framework of EPCs, drawing in the structure of the Spanish EPC. This approach supports consistency with established national practices while extending the scope and granularity of the information captured, positioning the RP as a natural extension of the EPC rather than a standalone output.
The OneClickRENO RP data model is structured around two core pillars:
- The baseline scenario, which represents the building’s current condition.
- The time-dependent stages, which define the deep renovation pathway over time.
The model follows a hierarchical and modular format, allowing for gradual data enrichment and progressive updates. It is composed of logical blocks, each associated with either the baseline (B) or one or more future renovation steps (F). Assessment-related blocks (energy performance, financial assessment, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), environmental assessment and Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)) are designed to be repeatable across stages, while the renovation roadmap acts as the ‘container’ that structures repeated sets of these assessments for each planned renovation step.
Crucially, this architecture goes beyond energy-only performance. While the EPC focuses on energy performance, the OneClickRENO model expands this perspective by integrating these additional assessments within one unified structure. This supports a more holistic understanding of the building and strengthens decision-support across the renovation journey.
Table 1. Structure of the OneClickRENO data model for RPs. Source: OneClickRENO project
The renovation roadmap block is central to this forward-looking component. For each planned renovation step, a dedicated sub-block is generated. This sub-block replicates the same set of assessments present in the baseline but applies them to a future stage. This enables clear comparisons between the baseline and each subsequent stage, tracking expected improvements over time.
Because each renovation step is structured in parallel to the baseline, the model also supports progressive data evolution. Once a renovation is implemented, the corresponding future block can directly replace the baseline data, becoming the actual baseline, rendering the previous baseline a historical block, thus keeping the RP updated. This design aligns with Article 19(14) of the EPBD, which encourages the use of simplified procedures for updating EPCs when only individual elements are upgraded. The same principle can apply to other assessments included in the RP.
For each quantitative indicator in the Renovation roadmap, the model reports the value at each step together with the absolute and relative change compared to the previous stage, ensuring the tracking of indicator evolution across the staged renovation pathway.
Specifically, the full data model is available as an Excel file and as a machine-readable XML schema to support digital integration and system interoperability. The Excel file specifies, for each field, its definition, unit, data type, and permitted values, and it distinguishes mandatory and optional fields according to the EPBD requirements.
Figure 1. RP data model (Excel format). Source: OneClickRENO, Deliverable D2.3 supplementary materials.
Figure 2. RP data model (XML format). Source: OneClickRENO, Deliverable D2.3 supplementary materials.
As an additional project output, a PDF template following the same structure has been developed. It mirrors the RP scheme and presents the step-by-step evolution of indicators (beyond energy performance) in a user-readable format, while also including complementary information that can trigger renovation decisions (e.g., availability of One-Stop-Shops and key renovation benefits).
Figure 3. RP (PDF template). Source: OneClickRENO
Financial assessment as a value proposition for staged renovation roadmaps
A recurring market barrier for RPs is the ‘translation gap’ between technical feasibility and real investment decisions. To reduce this friction, OneClickRENO embeds financial assessment as a core component of the RP scheme, providing structured outputs that support decision-making and enable comparability across renovation stages.
OneClickRENO integrates a set of financial indicators designed to: (i) make renovation benefits legible in economic terms, given that cost savings are a major driver of renovation decisions; (ii) increase transparency and trust through clear financial indicators; (iii) connect technical optimisation with affordability and long-term value, as renovations will not happen—even if technically optimal—unless their economic feasibility is demonstrated, and (iv) facilitate access to funding by using metrics that are recognisable to banks, public programmes, and investors for project appraisal.
The selection of indicators follows three strategic objectives: assessing feasibility (whether a pathway creates net value), capturing profitability and risk through complementary lenses (since no single KPI is sufficient), and aligning with financing and policy frameworks that typically require standardised metrics for appraisal and support.
OneClickRENO defines a harmonised set of financial indicators for renovation roadmaps, as detailed in Deliverable D3.1: The reference building stock assessment from baseline to deep renovated status [2]. These indicators are life cycle cost (LCC), net present value (NPV), return-on-investment-based annual rate, discounted payback period, and increase in financial value.
The data model in pilot tools
To support practical implementation of the EPBD, Member States are encouraged to provide digital tools for passport preparation and updates and may provide complementary tools to simulate a draft simplified passport [1].
In this context, OneClickRENO is developing a passport-generation module across the pilot ecosystems that will produce simplified and estimated RPs. It is being integrated into existing pilot tools: BERWOW in Ireland, RenUEva in Spain, and Re-Modulees in Italy and the Netherlands. These simplified outputs use the proposed data model and follow the same baseline-and-stages structure, providing an entry point for citizens to start planning staged renovation, and a first draft for professionals that can later be refined and adapted to the building’s actual conditions following an on-site assessment.
Figure 4. RP generator embedded in the Spanish renUEva tool.
Validation: translating market insights into design decisions
A key value proposition of the OneClickRENO RP scheme is that the underlying data model was validated both at EU level and through pilot-country ecosystem activities. The objective was to ensure that the model reflects renovation-market realities by prioritising indicators and information that are meaningful for end users and can effectively support (and motivate) renovation decisions, within an EPBD-aligned framework. This validation strategy combined (i) an EU-level survey and (ii) targeted validation activities across the four pilot ecosystems (Ireland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands).
EU-level survey
An EU-level survey was conducted by the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI), gathering input from over 5.500 responses across 32 European countries, to understand homeowners’ insights in building renovation, including perceived benefits, barriers, and support needs. In the context of OneClickRENO, these results were used to verify that the proposed RP data structure and indicator domains reflect end users’ concerns, motivations, and constraints.
OneClickRENO documents this translation step through a dedicated mapping of survey questions to data model components, showing how survey signals informed specific fields (e.g., staged renovation logic, intervention types, perceived benefits, energy bills, property value). More information is documented in Deliverable D2.3: Renovation passport data model. Additionally, the survey results can be found in the UIPI report ‘European property owners’ perspectives and experiences on building renovation’.
Figure 5. Overview of the EU-Level Survey on Building Renovation.
Some of the key findings derived from the survey are:
- Renovation is commonly carried out in several steps. Respondents who have already renovated, as well as those planning to renovate, frequently reported undertaking improvements in multiple stages. This directly supports the model’s core: a staged renovation roadmap aligned with real renovation practice.
- A flexible roadmap is needed to reflect diverse intervention priorities. Reported measures frequently include thermal insulation and heat source upgrades, while the relative relevance of other interventions varies across countries. This supports the need for a roadmap that covers core measure types while remaining flexible to national contexts and to the combination of measures, including interventions that, when coordinated, can act as triggers for broader or deeper renovation actions.
- Perceived benefits go beyond energy performance alone. Respondents reported benefits such as reduced energy bills and improved comfort, and also highlighted value-related outcomes (e.g., property/rental value) as motivations. This supports including other non-energy indicators alongside energy performance in the RP.
- Financial aspects and support needs are central. The survey points to financial barriers and the importance of access to support mechanisms, reinforcing the value of integrating financial indicators and making support-related information visible within the RP.
Pilot validation activities
To complement the EU-level survey, OneClickRENO carried out dedicated validation activities across the four pilot ecosystems. While the engagement format was adapted to each national context (e.g., workshops, surveys), all activities followed a common objective: to test the relevance of the data model (mandatory and optional indicators) and the value of including a broad set of indicators.
Pilot country workshops confirmed the model’s applicability in real-world contexts and highlighted the need for flexibility to reflect national renovation practices and legal frameworks. These results demonstrate that the OneClickRENO data model offers a strong, flexible foundation adaptable to support the development of RPs that meet local user needs while remaining aligned with the EPBD framework.
Conclusions
EU policy is moving towards the adoption of building RPs as a practical instrument to accelerate building renovation. In this context, OneClickRENO delivers two complementary results: (i) a RPdata model that structures information consistently across the current building state and staged renovation steps, and (ii) a passport generation module being implemented in the pilot ecosystems to produce simplified and estimated passports. Together, these outputs translate the RP concept into practice and provide a reference that Member States can draw on when transposing EPBD requirements.
References
[1] Ulrich Filippi Oberegger et al., 'The reference building stock assessment from baseline to deep renovated status,' Eurac Research, Deliverable, Jan. 2026.
