H2020 – RentalCal – European rental housing framework for the profitability calculation of energy efficiency retrofitting investments

Purpose - Most of the European apartment blocks are rental units of which the majority needs major refurbishments in upcoming years to achieve climate goals. On the other hand, it is still difficult for property owners to evaluate the profitability of energetic retrofitting investments. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the situation by forming a standardized framework and tool to calculate profitability of energy efficiency investments throughout Europe. Design/methodology/approach - From a European perspective, several different areas of interest (technical, legal, institutional and financial) have been screened to develop an extensive compendium. This has been performed by literature research and several national surveys. Based on these findings, an online-based tool for profitability calculation has been developed to support the decision-making process of each individual, regardless his knowledge on energy efficiency. Findings - This paper provides a short overview on main investment barriers in Germany. It is found that both market conditions and information deficits harm energy efficiency investments. Frequently, the decision-making process is found difficult due to inflexible regulations and lack of knowledge. This dramatically reduces market incentives that are already in place. Most often, the investor user dilemma is seen as the main investment obstacle. In this context, transparency and reliability are found to trigger energy-efficient investments. Practical implications - Findings are used to identify best practice examples and to assess their transferability to other markets and countries. Innovative solutions have been extracted to improve the overall investment climate. Originality/value - The paper contributes to a sound foundation for energy-related investments and the fulfillment of EU reduction targets.