Over the past weeks, the RenoVisor consortium has organised a series of co-creation workshops with key stakeholders in Ireland, the Netherlands and the Basque Country. These sessions are part of the participatory approach that guides RenoVisor project, and more specifically the Single Family Home (SFH) tool co-creation.
The main objective of the workshops was to gather feedback and contributions on the click-dummy version of the SFH tool and better understand how it responds to the needs of people involved in renovation processes. By engaging experts and stakeholders directly, the project aims to ensure that the tool is not only technically robust, but also practical, accessible and relevant for real users and real renovation contexts.
From Internal Design to External Co-Creation
Earlier this year, the first mock-up of the SFH tool was developed and tested internally within the consortium. This initial internal co-creation phase brought together the expertise of project partners from different fields, including energy renovation, sustainability, citizen engagement, energy vulnerability, financing, modelling and digital development. The feedback collected during this process helped design the workflow, functionalities and overall structure of the tool, leading to the creation of a more advanced click-dummy version.
Following this internal phase, RenoVisor moved into external stakeholder engagement activities. The first feedback round involved members of the project’s External Advisory Board, followed by participatory workshops with stakeholders from the pilot territories.
For the RenoVisor consortium, maintaining close contact with citizens and professionals working on the ground is essential. Energy renovation processes involve technical, financial and social dimensions, and understanding these realities is key to designing a tool that can genuinely support decision-making.
Participatory Workshops in Three Countries
Four co-creation workshops were organised in the Basque Country, Ireland and the Netherlands, bringing together experts and stakeholders working in the field of energy efficiency and renovation. In total, approximately 26 participants took part in the sessions, representing profiles such as energy advisors, architects, public authorities, researchers and renovation practitioners.
The workshops focused on evaluating the tool’s:
- Utility and practical relevance
- Usability and user experience
- Workflow coherence
- Clarity of the information provided
To facilitate meaningful participation, different participatory techniques were used throughout the sessions. These methods helped create a collaborative and comfortable environment where participants could share both individual impressions and collective reflections about the tool and renovation processes more broadly.
Among the key topics discussed were the importance of user-friendly interfaces, the integration of financial guidance, the need for trustworthy and transparent information, and how to better support different user profiles during renovation decision-making.
What comes next?
The feedback collected during these workshops will play an important role in the next development phase of the RenoVisor SFH tool. The consortium will now analyse the suggestions gathered, assess their technical feasibility and prioritise possible improvements for future versions of the tool.
We are very grateful to everyone who participated in these workshops and contributed their time, expertise and perspectives. Involving communities and stakeholders in the energy transition is essential, and these co-creation activities are an important step towards building more inclusive and effective renovation solutions.
Stay Connected
The RenoVisor team will continue testing and improving the tool throughout the project. Follow our channels to stay updated on upcoming activities, pilot actions and future developments of the RenoVisor tools.
