The SHAPE EU initiative, promoted by the European Commission, aims to support the sustainable renovation of social housing, with a focus on energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and combating energy poverty. It was created as part of the Renovation Wave strategy, launched in 2020, and is considered one of the NEB’s flagship projects.
In its first phase (2022-2024), called SHAPE I, the project provided expert advice to 22 urban districts in different countries (including Spain) to promote the sustainable modernization of social housing. The SHAPE II phase is currently underway and will run until 2027, pursuing three main lines of action:
- Technical innovation (Green technologies and eco-design)
- The formulation of people-centered financial models (including non-profit entities)
- Experimentation with co-creation tools to empower communities
A specific example in our country is the OPENGELA project in the Basque Country, where energy renovations have been carried out on social housing. To finance these interventions, grants were combined with 15-year repayable loans, allowing low-income families to access significant improvements.
