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R. Elgendy

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Evaluating public-led energy renovation processes in Belgian condominiums -lessons from five Flemish case studies

Energy renovations in multi-owner residential buildings are a critical but complex component of Europe's decarbonization strategy. Co-owned condominiums face challenges related to collective decision-making, technical complexity, legal rigidity, and financial risk. Across Europe, national and regional governments have launched support structures, most notably one-stop shops, to guide co-owners through the renovation process and to bridge technical, financial, and organizational gaps. In the Belgian region Flanders, the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency has launched a subsidized Renovation Master Plan to overcome these barriers by facilitating one-stop shops that provide neutral renovation advice (Energy Houses), and engineering and architectural consultancies (Study Offices) to support condominiums throughout the renovation process. This article investigates how this Public-Led Approach operates in practice by analysing five real-life condominium renovation projects across three cities: Antwerp, Mechelen, and Ostend. Based on case studies, interviews with co-owners and relevant stakeholders, and analysis of project reports, this study explores this policy instrument with the aim of optimizing its effectiveness and exploring its potential for replication in other EU member states. The findings show that successful energy renovations are not just a matter of technical planning or financial subsidies. Progress depends on how public actors build trust, coordinate fragmented stakeholders, and adapt their business models to diverse ownership structures and renovation pathways. We argue that replicating and scaling such Public-Led Approaches requires sustained local engagement, institutional flexibility, and public-private collaborations. The findings can inform policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in developing effective and targeted Publicly-Led Integrated home renovation services in the EU. ...
Report (2025) - R. Elgendy, E. Mlecnik, QK Qian, Annick Vanhove, Claire Verberck, Walter van Steenis, Kim Vandecaveye, Ander Jimenez Morales, Ana Veronica Martinez
This report evaluates the performance and development needs of Integrated Home Renovation Services (IHRS) tailored for condominiums in Flanders and the Netherlands. It focuses on two complementary models: a public-led approach piloted in Flanders through the Flemish Climate and Energy Agency (VEKA) and local Energy Houses, and a private-led approach represented by the Dutch service provider WNR.
To support this evaluation, we developed a conceptual framework based on tailored evaluation criteria designed to assess the viability of the business models. These criteria were informed by a review of relevant literature, project deliverables, and practical observations, and are used to assess key aspects such as financial stability, adaptability, customer focus, and operational efficiency.
The analysis combines multiple data sources, including document reviews, observations, co-creation workshops, and in-depth interviews with co-owners, board members, IHRS actors, and public stakeholders involved in energy renovations across eight condominium associations (CAs) in both Flanders and the Netherlands. This qualitative research was further complemented by two questionnaire surveys, one targeted at CA co-owners in Flanders and the Netherlands, and another at a broader group of property owners across the EU. The EU-wide survey revealed consistent patterns in motivations, barriers, and support needs, highlighting the relevance of the findings beyond the immediate case studies.
Both IHRS models aim to simplify the complex renovation journey for CAs by offering advisory, coordination, and technical support. However, each model faces specific challenges: The public-led model benefits from neutrality and policy alignment, but often lacks long-term engagement beyond the masterplan phase and struggles with resource intensity. The private-led model shows strengths in flexibility, phased planning, and client-centric service, but must overcome barriers related to trust, financing accessibility, and coordination with public actors such as municipalities and housing corporations.
The report provides detailed business model recommendations for improving service delivery across nine Business Model Canvas components. These are supported by policy recommendations targeting national and local governments.
Limitations of the Study: While this report offers rich insights, it is based on a limited number of in-depth IHRS providers, three in Flanders and one in the Netherlands. The findings are therefore not statistically generalizable but reflect qualitative depth. The co-owner interviews may also reflect the views of more engaged or vocal residents, potentially underrepresenting passive or non-participating co-owners. Finally, the long-term outcomes of renovation processes were not yet fully observable at the time of this analysis. Despite these limitations, the study provides robust evidence for informing business model optimization and targeted policy support for IHRS models across varying governance contexts. The developed evaluation framework also offers a transferable tool for assessing similar renovation service models in other European contexts. ...

How Integrated Home Renovation Service Providers Engage Stakeholders in Energy Renovations for Homeowner Associations

Journal article (2025) - R. Elgendy, E. Mlecnik, H. Visscher, Q. Qian
Across Europe, homeowner associations (HOAs) are increasingly recognised as pivotal entities in the energy renovation of condominiums, which are essential for achieving the EU's energy efficiency targets. However, the success of such renovations hinges on the active involvement and effective collaboration of diverse stakeholders throughout the renovation journey, from project initiation to post-renovation operation. This paper aims to map stakeholders involved in energy renovations supported by intermediaries for HOAs, categorise their roles, and analyse their relationships to better understand collaboration dynamics. By investigating these stakeholder interactions, the study seeks to identify opportunities for improving stakeholder engagement, optimising IHRS coordination, and unburdening HOAs throughout the renovation process. Using an iterative approach that combines desk research, focus groups, and interviews, this study identifies the relationships between renovation intermediaries and potential stakeholders for condominium renovations. The findings of this study highlight that successful energy renovations require the involvement and effective coordination of multiple stakeholders. Achieving comprehensive condominium renovations necessitates a public-private collaboration, ensuring that all financial, technical, and regulatory aspects are adequately addressed. The findings provide actionable insights for intermediaries such as one-stop shops, policymakers, renovation service providers, and HOAs, enabling them to enhance collaborative frameworks, streamline processes, and develop strategic actions. By strengthening public-private cooperation, these insights support the efficient implementation of energy renovations and the unburdening of HOAs throughout the renovation journey. This study contributes to the development of integrated renovation pathways that are efficient, scalable, and sustainable. ...

D3.5 Discussion document for speeding up renovations by condominium associations by reducing the financial risks

Report (2025) - Walter Van Steenis, E. Mlecnik, R. Elgendy, Clarence Rose, Annick Vanhove
This report outlines the necessity of a dedicated guarantee fund and a financial fund to facilitate condominium renovations. The aim of installing such funds is to minimize risks for Condominium Association (CAs), their members, and financial institutions, making loans more affordable and encouraging renovations. The report particularly discusses fund development from the perspective of the CondoReno project partners who aim to create and multiply Integrated Home Renovation Services for condominium associations. Together with national stakeholders, they evaluated the most important barriers in the renovation process, based on former research and focusing on financial challenges intertwined with policy and legal issues. A workshop and two focus group discussions emphasized the importance of controlling costs and risks to make renovations affordable, especially for low-income individuals and households. The role of quality assurance in establishing a maximum renovation price and the concept of living cost optimality are highlighted. The report compiles all experiences so far on this topic, explores best practices and the legal and financial requirements for financial and guarantee funds as well as the importance of healthy financial planning for CAs. Finally, recommendations are given to optimize fund development. ...
Report (2025) - Annick Vanhove, Claire Verberck, Clarence Rose, E. Mlecnik, Johan Vanden Driessche, Kim Vandecaveye, R. Elgendy, Walter van Steenis, Ander Jimenez Morales, More authors...
The primary objective of the CondoReno project is to create and replicate Integrated Home Renovation Services (IHRS) in Flanders and the Netherlands to achieve label A condominium renovations with condominium associations. The project addresses the challenge of coordinating multiple stakeholders involved in the renovation of co-owned condominiums, including co-owners, condominium associations (CAs), condominium managers, contractors, financial institutions, and government bodies. The report outlines the steps taken to build and multiply IHRS, focusing on stakeholder mapping, co-creation with internal and external stakeholders, digital support, and quality assurance. Subsequently, we describe the initiatives that WNR and the energy houses of Antwerp, Ostend and Mechelen took to develop an IHRS through co-creation processes with local stakeholders from the demand and the supply side. These initiatives concern local stakeholder groups in The Netherlands and Flanders, various training and knowledge exchange initiatives, a digital resource center, the creation of two IHRS originating from the supply side. The report demonstrates that co-creation processes can significantly enhance the demand and supply of IHRS for condominiums. Key recommendations include strengthening collaboration between authorities, aligning renovation incentives with CA needs, and exploring long term and innovative financing models. The development of a standardized IHRS model and stronger public-private partnerships are also emphasized. The CondoReno partners will focus on further refining their IHRS models, implementing and disseminating the CRM system, expanding training programs, and exploring new financing options. ...
Report (2025) - Ander Jimenez Morales, Giorgia Signoretto, E. Mlecnik, R. Elgendy, Walter van Steenis, Clarence Rose, Claire Verberck, Annick Vanhove, Kim Vandecaveye, More authors...
Conference paper (2024) - Ragy Elgendy, Erwin Mlecnik, Henk Visscher, Queena Qian
Buildings in the EU consume around 40 % of energy and are responsible for 36 % of greenhouse gas emissions. This necessitates building energy renovations as a coping strategy for energy reduction. Residential buildings consume about 27 % of the energy use in Europe. Multifamily residential buildings, known as condominiums, feature individually owned apartments and are managed by Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs). HOAs constitute a considerable percentage of the owners of the residential sector in Europe. However, the deep energy renovation rate is still low due to the complex process and the barriers faced by HOAs. There is a lack of understanding of the main barriers to undertaking deep energy renovation projects by HOAs and their potential solutions. Therefore, this paper investigates barriers, incentives, and possible solutions that motivate HOAs to undertake deep energy renovation projects. This study employs a combination of qualitative methods, including archival research, the gathering of information through observations at meetings organized by the EU, four interviews, and a workshop with eleven experts. This exploration was conducted from the perspective of three actors: home renovation providers, public authorities, and policymakers in the Netherlands and Flanders. The barriers are grouped under four categories, namely: financial, legal, social, and technical. The findings indicate that communication, cost, and legal structure are the most significant barriers. The incentives play a vital role only in the early phases of the renovation. The findings can inform policymakers, energy practitioners, and researchers in developing targeted strategies for successfully implementing deep renovation projects for HOAs. ...

Identification of viable business models for Integrated Home Renovation Services for condominiums in the Netherlands and Flanders D2.2

Report (2024) - Ragy Elgendy, Erwin Mlecnik
The need for energy efficient buildings has become increasingly important in climate change mitigation. Almost 75% of the building stock in Europe is energy inefficient. Residential buildings are responsible for 27% of the total energy consumption in Europe. Integrated home renovation services (IHRS) have emerged as a potential solution to accelerate highly energy-efficient renovations for homeowners’ associations (HOAs). The question arises: How can the business models of current IHRS accelerate highly energy-efficient renovations by HOAs? This report explores the current state of IHRS in Europe with a focus on the viewpoint of the Netherlands and Flanders. The methods used are desk research, questionnaires and interviews. Five business models (BMs) of CondoReno project partners were analyzed, to support their development strategies within the regional context. This report compares IHRS BMs and brings knowledge about the operation of IHRS. The results show that the BMs of the project partners share some similarities and differ in other aspects. Regarding the similarities, all five providers share the value of offering customized energy renovation packages, also in terms of customer segments, by addressing the specific needs of HOAs. They slightly differ regarding the channels used, customer relationships, key resources, key activities and key partners. They differ in revenue/value streams and cost structure, owing to context-specific aspects of the type of organization. As such, this study informs stakeholders about the development of effective and targeted IHRS initiatives in the EU. ...
Across the European Union (EU), approximately 46% of the population resides in apartment buildings. A majority of these buildings are in need of energy renovation and are managed by Homeowner associations (HOAs). HOAs face distinct challenges in renovating their buildings. Integrated home renovation services (IHRS) have emerged as a potential solution to accelerate highly energy-efficient renovations for HOAs. The question arises: How do current integrated home renovation service providers facilitate energy renovations for homeowner associations, overcoming the prevailing barriers to uptake? This paper explores the current state of IHRS providers operating in four European regions with a focus on the Netherlands and Flanders. The study offers insights into the dynamics of their business models, strategies, and ways forward. The methods employed involve a combination of qualitative approaches. Fourteen business models of IHRS providers in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Austria were analysed, to define their strategies within the regional context. The results reveal that while public entities prioritize broad societal challenges, private models focus on operational efficiency and financial sustainability. Public-private partnerships offer a hybrid approach, blending strengths but requiring precise governance to align diverse interests and achieve comprehensive, sustainable outcomes. The findings can inform policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in developing effective and targeted IHRS initiatives in the EU. ...

CondoReno - Deliverable 7.1

Report (2024) - S. Marchionda, E. Mlecnik, Walter van Steenis, Clarence Rose, Kim Vandecaveye, R. Elgendy, E. Kassotaki, Claire Verberck, Johan Vanden Driessche, Ander Jimenez Morales, Fernando Sigchos Jimenez, Elena Maria Petrich, Annick Vanhove
Report (2024) - Walter van Steenis, E. Mlecnik, R. Elgendy, Clarence Rose, Annick Vanhove
This CondoReno Deliverable is a comprehensive document designed to aid Condominium Associations (CAs) in the Netherlands and Flanders with energy renovations. Spearheaded by WNR with collaboration from experts at TU Delft and other institutions, the deliverable introduces a Renovation Roadmap and a Financial Calculation Tool. These are intended to streamline the renovation process by providing a structured approach and simplifying financial decisions for CAs. The Renovation Roadmap serves as a strategic guide, helping CAs understand the entire renovation journey, including the necessary decisions and the roles of different stakeholders. This step-by-step plan (investment proposal method) provides guidance on when which decisions should be made, linked to a decision by the GM. In addition to the widely supported start of a renovation process, the most important decisions are the decision to invest and the final assignment to renovate. Alongside this, the Financial Calculation Tool offers a preliminary financial overview, enabling CAs to assess the economic feasibility of renovations before committing. This tool is particularly designed to present a simplified comparison of costs before and after renovations, incorporating variables like potential subsidies and energy savings, though it does not account for inflation to maintain a consistent comparison basis. The investments and energy savings come from the advisory reports or master plan studies of various types of consultants, such as architects or engineering firms. The primary aim of this deliverable is to facilitate the decision-making process for CAs, reducing barriers to undertaking deep renovations. By providing a clear financial picture and potentially demonstrating cost savings and benefits over time, the tool encourages more CAs to commit to substantial energy efficiency improvements. Future plans for the deliverable include a series of reviews and updates to refine the tool, with considerations for developing it into an app or interactive web tool based on the outcomes of these reviews and available budget. This progression is aimed at enhancing accessibility and user interaction, further supporting CAs in their renovation endeavours. The ultimate goal is to accelerate energy renovations across condominiums by equipping CAs with necessary insights and tools for informed decision-making. ...
Web publication (2024) - R. Elgendy
CondoReno examines effective ways for municipalities among other stakeholders to support energy renovations in condominiums. The roles, challenges, and potential of seven municipalities in the Netherlands and Flanders were analysed to explore how they can optimise business models for greater engagement in the early phases of energy renovations. ...

Verklaringen gezamenlijke ontwikkeling van bedrijfsmodellen - Nederland

Report (2023) - Erwin Mlecnik, Ragy Elgendy
De VvE-versnellingsagenda wil de verduurzaming van Verenigingen van Eigenaars (VvE’s) stimuleren door besluitvorming aan te passen, het renovatietraject te vereenvoudigen en financiële ondersteuning te bieden aan VvE’s. Het LIFE-project CondoReno omarmt deze visie en streeft bovendien naar meer renovaties en betere energieprestaties. CondoReno ondersteunt verschillende stakeholders voor de ontwikkeling van geïntegreerde woningrenovatiediensten (GWRD) voor VvE’s. Het realiseren van een betere samenwerking tussen de publieke sector en de vraag- en aanbodzijde vormt een belangrijke sleutel voor dit project. Met het voorliggend rapport ondersteunt CondoReno alvast de identificatie en classificatie van lokale en nationale stakeholders die een belang kunnen hebben bij de ontwikkeling van GWRD voor VvE’s in Nederland. Deze stakeholders hebben ook een belang bij het gebruik van toekomstige deliverables en tools, zoals archetypes van mogelijke bedrijfsmodellen, instrumenten voor dienstverleners, beleidsaanbevelingen en eisen voor fondsen, de realisatie van demonstratieprojecten en matchmaking tussen vraag en aanbod. De CondoReno-partners hebben het stakeholdersveld verkend d.m.v. bilaterale gesprekken en workshops. GWRD zijn momenteel vooral vertrouwd met het bedienen van individuele bewoners en kleine VvE’s. Voor de doorontwikkeling van GWRD voor VvE’s is een gevorderde samenwerking nodig tussen diverse stakeholders. Gemeenten spelen een belangrijke rol voor het faciliteren of aanbieden van aangepaste geïntegreerde diensten. Er is ook nood aan sociale deskundigen en procesbegeleiders die vertrouwd zijn met de VvE-besluitvormingsprocessen. Een woonlasten-optimale propositie vergt ook samenwerking met juridische en financiële adviseurs. Bovendien vergt het bereiken van gebouwprestatiegaranties ook de samenwerking met gespecialiseerde energiedeskundigen, master planners en kwaliteitsbewakers. Dit rapport geeft tevens een overzicht van de stakeholders die reeds hebben verklaard te willen werken aan de ontwikkeling van GWRD voor VvE’s in Nederland. Deze stakeholders werden gevraagd om deel te nemen aan een nationale CondoReno-adviesraad die adviseert over de nodige ontwikkeling van competenties voor - en samenwerking tussen – stakeholders. Gezamenlijk streven deze stakeholders naar het creëren van interesse, middelen en ontzorging voor VvE’s zodat alle VvE’s gebruik kunnen maken van geïntegreerde woningrenovatiediensten. ...

Accelerating Energy Efficient Renovations for Homeowners Associations in The Low Countries and France

Conference paper (2023) - R. Elgendy, E. Mlecnik, H.J. Visscher, QK Qian
The need for energy efficient buildings has become increasingly important in the context of climate change mitigation. Across the European Union (EU), 41,2% of the population resides in multiple ownership apartment buildings with figures rising in some countries as high as 65%. A majority of these buildings are in need of energy renovation. Integrated home renovation services (IHRS) have emerged as a potential solution to accelerate highly energy-efficient renovations for Home-Owner Associations (HOAs). The question arises: How do the business models of current integrated home renovation services address highly energy-efficient renovations by HOAs? This paper explores the current state of IHRS from the viewpoint of the Low Countries and France. The methods used are desk research and interviews. Four business models of service providers in the Netherlands, Flanders, and France were analyzed, to define their strategies within the regional context. The analysis categorizes and compares IHRS business model (BM) typologies to increase knowledge about IHRS functioning and capacity to bring innovation to home renovation processes. The results show that the BMs of these providers share some similarities and differ in other aspects. Regarding the similarities, all four providers share the value of offering customized energy renovation packages, also in terms of customer segments, by addressing the specific needs of HOAs. They slightly differ in terms of the channels used, customer relationships, key resources, key activities and key partners. They differ in revenue streams and cost structure, owing to context-specific aspects of the type of organization. The outcome of this study can help inform the development of effective and targeted IHRS initiatives in the EU. ...