Life AREC Reno

AREC

Facilitating district-scale deep renovation with bio-based solutions through demand aggregation and the strengthening of SMEs’ operational capacity

AREC – Agro Reno Empower Collective is a LIFE project that aims to accelerate the deployment of deep renovation at district scale. The consortium involves partners from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Ireland, and works to activate collective buy-in schemes by combining standardised retrofit packages, bio-based and climate-adaptation solutions, cooperative models for SMEs, and innovative financing tools.
AREC promotes an integrated approach that connects demand (residents, public authorities, social housing organisations) and supply (SMEs and construction companies) to make renovation more accessible, inclusive and replicable across European neighbourhoods. The project’s outcomes will be demonstrated through four pilot sites in France, Italy, Ireland and Germany.

Project objectives

1. Activate large-scale demand for district-level deep renovation packages by integrating bio-based and climate-adaptation solutions into retrofit offerings.
2. Strengthen cooperation and upskilling within the construction value chain, promoting collaborative and inclusive models among SMEs to support district-scale interventions.
3. Improve market conditions and financial models for collective renovation schemes by exploring innovative instruments such as Community Land Trusts, crowdfunding, Energy Performance Guarantee contracts, and circular business models.