Green Homes in Nógrád

Summary of the local experiment

The experiment in Nógrád, Hungary, aims to address the available technical, social, and community solutions tailored to the renovation needs of low-income households in a rural residential area. The valuable field experience of HfHH will be shared along with know-how and experiences from energy experts and constructors in the network during meetings and ecotours with participants. The best solutions will be summarized in info sheets and published online.

Local context

Nógrád is Hungary's second smallest county, located northeast of Budapest, on the Slovak border. Most of its territory is a hilly, heavily wooded landscape dominated by villages, many with a population of less than 1,000 inhabitants. Energy-substandard detached houses dominate the area. A significant proportion of the population lacks energy efficiency and financial awareness. In the region, energy poverty is a complex phenomenon with strong social aspects that must be addressed simultaneously to achieve positive results.

Specific needs and challenges

Energy poverty is a common phenomenon within the locality; it is a complex issue with strong social aspects that must be addressed simultaneously to achieve positive results. Houses are generally in poor condition, with problems to be solved before the actual energy renovation can happen. The majority of properties are heated by wood, and 45% use individual space heating (stoves). Households have generally low income, often combined with modest financial awareness. Under such housing and social conditions, assessing cost-effective options for energy efficiency renovations is a priority. Therefore, the different options, motivations, good experiences, challenges and obstacles to energy renovations need to and will be assessed in a broader sense within the social experiment, as well as technical solutions specific to the given housing conditions will also need to be addressed.

Detailed description of the experiment

Given the region's high level of energy poverty and HfHH’s field experience, the project aims to address available technical, financial, social and community solutions tailored to the renovation needs of low-income households. The professional members of the knowledge network will be selected and invited to serve this aim of inclusion, to tackle the complex technical, financial, social and community implications of renovations. The discussions at the opening and closing events among the knowledge network members will target all these aspects in order to map the full range of technical and financial options, motivations, good experiences, challenges and obstacles to energy efficiency renovations.

The best way to trigger action and promote energy renovations among local households is to showcase tangible implementation. Here the neighbourhood effect is the perfect incentive. The eco-home tours will demonstrate and disseminate the feasibility and benefits of energy renovations. Specificities to the local housing conditions (how to insulate mixed masonry buildings, what options are available to change the inefficient wood-fueled stoves to improve heating conditions and how the energy consumption can be reduced) will be targeted.

For the experiment, it is not only important to show good practices and what works for households. It is at least as essential to bring together different actors and to raise awareness of the energy poverty phenomenon with the professional audience (mainly local authorities and organizations working in various fields) to reflect together on how to help local energy efficiency retrofits in residential buildings at the system level and to find possible solutions to the problems and challenges.

Involvement of the target group

The main target group of the social experiment is families, as they are eligible for the state renovation grant, but the project will not be exclusive. HfHH’s Rural Assist Programme (RAP) targets 25 households where energy renovations have been and will be carried out. The social experiment will scale up the initiative by involving more households and stakeholders within the region. A minimum of 15 households will be involved, at least two thirds of them affected by energy poverty.

In addition to households, the knowledge network will target the following stakeholders:

• At least 15 professionals will be selected based on their role in energy renovations and their relation to residents.
• Local civil organizations will play a key role in engaging citizens, incorporating the social dimensions and mapping challenges of home energy renovation.
• The network will involve technical experts (constructors, energy specialists), mainly local SMEs with experience in energy performance assessment and home renovation in the region.
• At least one financial institution will join the network (possibly Erste Bank), and independent advisors who can provide information on financial options.
• Additional stakeholders to involve may include experts in adult education and group facilitation.

Partners

Habitat for Humanity works in 70 countries worldwide to ensure everyone can live in a healthy, affordable, dignified home. Habitat for Humanity Hungary has built more than 150 houses, renovated nearly 800 homes, and provided technical advice to improve the housing of 700 families. Since 2016, when it was established, the organization has been one of the strongest and most credible voices on the topic of energy poverty in Hungary and with the increased attention to and urgency of the climate crisis.

Additional remarks

The financial awareness of the target group (families) is below average. Thus, households often need to be made aware of and capable of accessing available support. Activities will therefore pay special attention to financing, with experts from the network providing information. An educational video on financing is planned. Other forms of technical assistance beyond finance will also be explored, including the role of local authorities and NGOs.