BENDER

Project to reduce energy poverty and renovate multi-apartment buildings

A project is underway in five Central and Eastern European countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Poland, Romania) aimed at supporting the energy renovation of Soviet-era apartment buildings and reducing energy poverty among vulnerable owners and tenants.
In line with the “energy efficiency first” principle, the project prioritizes the most inefficient buildings and addresses challenges such as fragmented ownership and market failures.

Project objective: development of practical tools for municipalities and large homeowners that will enable the identification of households in energy distress and the effective implementation of measures to reduce energy poverty.

During the Bender project, there will be:

5 pilot area plans developed, prioritizing building renovation based on their potential to maximize emissions reductions through energy savings and improve the quality of life and well-being of vulnerable homeowners.
A support system will be established for homeowners, municipalities and other large owners of multi-apartment buildings in target regions to accelerate the renovation process.
At least 3,500 owners, tenants and managers will be educated on the financial, legal and technical aspects of energy renovation.

Program: Life

Project partners:

University of Tartu (UTARTU), Estonia
LEA Lower Podravje (LEASP), Slovenia
Alba Local Energy Agency (ALEA), Romania
Climate Alliance, Germany
Medjimurje Energy Agency Ltd. (MENEA), Croatia
Mazovian Energy Agency (MAE), Poland
Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA), Estonia
Municipality of Alba Iulia (ALBA IULIA), Romania
Central Eastern European Sustainable Energy Network (CEESEN)

Project duration: 1.9.2023 – 31.8.2026 (36 months)
Total project budget: €1,850,000.00, of which €1,750,000.00 is provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

More information about the project can be found here: https://ceesen.org/about-ceesen/ceesen-bender/

Documents:

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_-D2.1-Smernice-za-spodbujanje-komunikacije-1.pdf

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_D2.2-Porocilo-o-energetski-ucinkovitosti-stavb-v-pilotnih-obmocjih-2.pdf

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_-D2.4-Demonstration-Building-synthesis-report_final-1.pdf

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_D3.1-Synthesis-Report.docx-1.pdf

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_D3.1Porocilo-o-ovirah-pri-prenovi-stavb-v-regulativnem-okviru-Slovenije.pdf

https://www.lea-ptuj.si/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CEESEN-BENDER_D3.2.-Slovenias-report-on-building-renovation-technical-and-economic-barriers.pdf