This guide from the European ReLIFE project provides a practical overview of the instruments available for financing energy renovation of buildings. Based on a market study and an analysis of 294 financing schemes across ten EU countries, it classifies the options according to their characteristics, beneficiaries, and renovation measures covered.

The document examines grants and subsidies, debt financing, green loans and mortgages, equity, energy performance contracting, on-bill financing, energy-as-a-service models, crowdfunding, guarantees and tax incentives. Its practical factsheets identify target groups, eligible measures, advantages, limitations, risks and recommendations for each mechanism. The analysis shows that 57% of the 294 schemes assessed are public and that most target the residential sector. More than 80% include building efficiency and heating and cooling efficiency measures, while approximately 75% cover renewable energy solutions for these uses.

The guide also identifies barriers including high upfront costs, project fragmentation, a lack of harmonised data and difficulties in accessing finance for vulnerable households, highlighting opportunities related to aggregation, blended financing, one-stop shops and tailored financial products.