Hungary is taking a decisive step towards a new era of home energy renovation with the launch of NERO (A National, trust-based Energy Renovation One-stop-shop), a project funded under the LIFE Programme and managed by CINEA. Coordinated by the Hungarian National Energy Agency (NEA), NERO officially kicked off on 1 September 2026. Over the next 36 months, it will bring together public authorities, financial institutions, technical experts and civil society organisations around a shared vision. At the heart of the project lies the creation of the country’s first national, state-coordinated One-Stop Shop for home energy renovation. This pioneering service will combine a modern digital platform with the personal guidance of certified Renovation Mentors, so that every homeowner can rely on a single, trusted partner throughout the entire renovation process. With this forward-looking model, NERO sets out to make high-quality and affordable renovations a reality for Hungarian households. It will also deliver a scalable solution with the potential to inspire similar initiatives across Europe.
A new era of trusted, integrated home renovation in Hungary
NERO introduces a comprehensive service model that accompanies homeowners through every step of their renovation journey, from the first idea to the completion of the works. At the heart of the model lies a hybrid One-Stop Shop. It combines a modern digital platform with the personal guidance of certified Renovation Mentors, who act as a single point of contact for technical, financial and administrative support.
To make renovation simple and reliable, NERO develops Standardised Renovation Packages tailored to typical Hungarian building types, together with a robust quality framework. Certified contractors, a transparent code of conduct and legally vetted contract templates ensure high-quality works and strong consumer protection. In parallel, the project co-designs accessible green financing products with the banking sector and integrates them seamlessly into the service, while a dedicated pathway supports vulnerable and energy-poor households.
The model will be tested and refined through two regional pilots in Pécs and Nyíregyháza, with the aim of triggering more than 100 renovations. Building on the results, NERO will deliver a self-sustaining business model, a replication “Franchise Kit” and a national rollout roadmap, ready to be scaled up across Hungary and adopted by other European regions.
By the end of the project, around 100 homes are expected to be renovated, with energy performance improvements of 30–60%, a number set to reach 1,000 within five years. In this way, NERO contributes to lower energy bills, healthier homes and the decarbonisation of the Hungarian building stock.
EPU-NTUA leads the development of the NERO platform, turning the project’s service model into a seamless digital experience for all stakeholders.
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