During the second RenoVisor Consortium Meeting in Bilbao, more than 20 representatives from partner organisations across Europe participated in an interactive workshop dedicated to vulnerability. Organised by COMILLAS within the Vulnerability Task Force, the session explored how vulnerable people can be better identified, engaged and supported through RenoVisor’s renovation tools and pilot activities.
Bringing together perspectives from the project’s Single-Family Homes, Multi-Family Homes and Energy Communities pilots, the workshop provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss practical approaches to ensuring that RenoVisor’s solutions are accessible and relevant to those facing the greatest barriers to energy renovation.
Understanding vulnerability across RenoVisor pilots
Participants worked in three groups representing RenoVisor’s pilot contexts: Single-Family Homes (SFH), Multi-Family Homes (MFH) and Energy Communities (ENC). Through a visual-thinking exercise, partners explored how vulnerability manifests itself in different settings and identified a wide range of groups that may face barriers to renovation and energy efficiency improvements.
For the SFH context, participants highlighted groups such as older people living alone, low-income households, immigrants, people experiencing health or mental health challenges, and those living in social housing. Particular attention was given to the so-called “squeezed middle” – households that do not qualify for social support schemes but still struggle to afford adequate heating, cooling or renovation works.
In the MFH group, discussions focused on urban residents living in older apartment buildings, including low-income households, tenants facing high rental costs, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing social isolation and those unable to afford renovation measures. Participants also highlighted the importance of considering language barriers and the varying levels of vulnerability that may exist within the same residential community.
For ENC, partners identified additional challenges affecting vulnerable groups, including limited access to digital infrastructure, mobility constraints, low financial literacy, distrust of institutions, and multiple forms of vulnerability that may overlap. The group also noted that many of the most vulnerable households are renters and therefore face additional barriers when trying to improve the energy performance of their homes.
From identifying to engaging vulnerable groups
Beyond discussing who might be considered vulnerable within RenoVisor pilots, participants explored practical ways to improve engagement and ensure that these groups can benefit from the project’s tools and services.
Across all groups, several common recommendations emerged. These included the use of clear and non-technical language, visual content, translated materials and accessible communication formats. Participants also highlighted the importance of complementing digital tools with human support through social workers, community organisations, local energy agencies and information centres.
Another recurring theme was the need to involve vulnerable people in decision-making processes rather than considering them solely as end users. Building trust, reducing administrative complexity and providing tailored guidance throughout the renovation journey were identified as important factors for successful engagement.
The session generated a range of recommendations related to communication, accessibility, engagement strategies and decision-making processes, which will be further explored by the Vulnerability Task Force as the project progresses.
As RenoVisor moves forward, the insights gathered during the workshop will help inform future discussions on how renovation support tools can better respond to the diverse needs of vulnerable households and communities. The exchange of experiences among partners provided a valuable foundation for continuing this work across the project’s different pilot contexts.
