We wish you a pleasant reading of this update,
CITYnvest team
Table of Contents
- We need to get the ‘bankability mentality’, the CITYnvest coordinator says at the French national workshop
- RenoWatt's one-stop-shop model explained
- How does CITYnvest make a change in thinking about financing buildings renovations?
- Brand new video explains how to and who can benefit from CITYnvest
- Watch CITYnvest team sharing experience in webinars
- Energy Agencies in Bulgaria hooked on CITYnvest
- Action Plan for Rhodope Region has been published
- Why and how to set up Urban Development Funds?
- Covenant of Mayors free training on financing: open call for expression of interest
We need to get the ‘bankability mentality’, the CITYnvest coordinator says at the French national workshop
French local authorities face strong budget constraints and reduction of national financial support. That has an impact on their ability to invest and carry out projects tackling climate issues, however the innovative approaches to financing energy efficiency have been already developed and tested in several regions.
The panellists agreed that the role of the public sector in developing investments in renovations of buildings is crucial. That kind of projects would not be possible to realize on a purely private market. However, the experts stressed that interesting and well prepared projects will always find investors to support them. Thus, strong political leadership and cooperation with private sector are indispensable. ‘We need to work with local authorities to get the bankability mentality’, Elise Steyaert, the coordinator of CITYnvest said.
Yet, involving financing institutions and ESCOs to invest in energy efficiency projects is not the only possible way to make the renovations happen. The participants of the event were more than eager to learn more about cooperatives and to explore citizen-funding solutions.
Presentations from the workshop are available on the workshop page. The video explaining the example of RenoWatt, which was broadcasted during the event can be watched here.
RenoWatt's one-stop-shop model explained

In a short video prepared for the French focus country workshop, Erika Honnay presents RenoWatt. She explains what financing instruments where used to renovate buildings in the Province of Liège and why those financing models were chosen, what are the key success factors and problems encountered, as well as prospects for replication of the one-stop-shop model in other countries and in France in particular.
How does CITYnvest make a change in thinking about financing buildings renovations?
Brand new video explains how to and who can benefit from CITYnvest

Watch CITYnvest team sharing experience in webinars
Elise Steyaert from Climate Alliance reacted to presentations of two smart city projects: CELSIUS CITY and EU-GUGLE, which focused on balancing the financial models for retrofitting buildings and district heating/cooling projects.
Energy Agencies in Bulgaria hooked on CITYnvest
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Association of Bulgarian Energy Agencies, the Bulgarian State Agency for Sustainable Energy Development (SEEA) as well as local energy agencies of Sofia (SOFENA), Plovdiv (Plovdiv Energy Agency), Pazardzhik, The Black Sea Research Energy Centre, Association of Rhodope Municipalities (ARM).
Action Plan for Rhodope Region has been published
- present the current situation in Rhodope Region regarding sustainable energy potential focusing on building retrofitting/RES incorporation and street lighting;
- present available financing models of relevance to local sustainable energy actions in Rhodope Region;
- tailor the Liege approach (RenoWatt experience to create a one-stop-shop) to Rhodope Region and to ensure it fits with Rhodope constraints and reality;
- outline the necessary steps to be taken in order to put in place the infrastructure that will help Rhodope municipalities in securing funding, while taking into account organizational, administrative, legal and financial aspects.
Why and how to set up Urban Development Funds?
Covenant of Mayors free training on financing: open call for expression of interest
The Covenant of Mayors is organising a two-day training on financing sustainable local development projects. The training is open to representatives of cities signatory to the Covenant of Mayors initiative and currently working on a development project. The deadline to register your interest in attending this free training is 17 October. More information on our website.