Consumers are well aware of the need to make their homes more energy efficient, to improve home comfort and reduce energy bills. But embarking on an unfamiliar journey to identify the best solutions and technology for them can be a daunting task.

Solar panels, heat pumps, insulating glass, green roofs etc are all out there on the market but understanding what works for the type of building they live in or what matches local planning requirements can feel like a full time job. 

This means the vast majority of homeowners, landlords or housing association administrators have to rely on specialist service providers for advice and guidance. This is where HORIS (short for ‘Home Renovation Integrated Services’) Digital One Stop Shop comes in, it’s a project funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme to take the hard work out of choosing the right tech and the right suppliers. 

New HORIS digital One Stop Shops launched

After 18 months of preparation, three new online One Stop Shop platforms have been launched in Italy, Spain and Portugal to give consumers easy access to trusted and tailored advice and information on making the best choices for home energy efficiency.

Ten partners from four different countries have been working together to compile information on regulations, finance, quick wins and trusted energy retrofit providers all in one easy to access place. The digital platforms will simplify the home renovation process and help consumers identify the best options for their specific needs.

The One Stop Shops has been built on the original Netherlands tool run by De Groene Grachten which has delivered targeted, quality checked information for over 10 years.  

Now, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish consumers can also easily access a diagnosis of potential intervention options.  Once they enter data and information about their building through a ‘self-scan’ tool, they can find a tailored package of advice including:  

• •  Vital legal and regulatory information including local and national planning regulations 
•  • Information on private and public financing schemes   
• •  Making easy, quick, low-cost wins to improve home energy efficiency
• •  A selection of vetted energy retrofit professionals, whose services have been validated and guaranteed by Bureau Veritas, the project’s certification partner.

Vetting providers key to consumer trust

Building trust on the demand side is crucial to the success of a vibrant, energy renovation market. This involves making sure consumers have ready access to an active supply side that can install high quality, affordable renovations and service them in the longer term.  

The HORIS project recognised the value that long standing, familiar consumer organisations bring to creating trust in manufacturers and professionals who do their job well. 

You can find the One Stop Shops for each country and the self-scan tools here: 

Italy:  horis.altroconsumo.it

simulatore-ristrutturazione.altroconsumo.it

 

Spain:  horis.ocu.org

simula-tu-reforma.ocu.org  

 

Portugal: www.renovarcasa.pt

renovarcasa-assistente.deco.proteste.pt   

Partners:

      •   Consumer organisations: DECO Proteste (Portugal), Altroconsumo (Italy) and OCU (Spain)

       •   Sustainability advisors: De Groene Grachten (The Netherlands)

      •   Research: NOVA (Portugal), INEGI (Portugal) and IEECP (The Netherlands)

      •    Companies association: ANERR (Spain)

       •   Certification: BUREAU VERITAS (Portugal)

       •   Investment and financing advisor: GNE Finance (Spain)