Advancing Energy Renovation of Public Tertiary Buildings

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Energy and Environment Agency (AURA EE) has been at the forefront of driving energy renovation for public tertiary buildings, such as schools, municipal offices and community facilities, through collaborative frameworks and European innovation projects.  

From BAPAURA to BAOBAP: A Continuum of Support 

A central pillar of AURA-EE’s recent activities has been its involvement in two successive European projects: BAPAURA and BAOBAP. 

BAPAURA (Building Energy Retrofitting Assistance by Public Authorities in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) was a European project funded under Horizon 2020 and coordinated by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME). Running from September 2020 to August 2023, BAPAURA sought to test and demonstrate a support service for small municipalities in their efforts to renovate existing public buildings.  

The project focused on developing tools and services that helped local authorities navigate the technical, financial and administrative challenges of renovation, simplifying financing pathways and mobilising local stakeholders for energy efficiency investments. It targeted a portfolio of public buildings throughout the region and helped set up one-stop shop services for energy renovation assistance that could be replicated elsewhere.  

Building on this foundation, the BAOBAP project began in 2023 under the European LIFE programme, again coordinated by ADEME and supported by AURA-EE and the the Regional Energy and Climate Agency of Occitanie (AREC Occitanie) alongside partners in both Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie. BAOBAP extends BAPAURA’s work by deploying the developed services more widely and adding new thematic innovations to address evolving needs.  

Regional Animation and Knowledge Exchange 

In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie, AURA-EE and AREC Occitanie play a key role as regional facilitators in BAOBAP. They support a network of territorial support structures (such as energy syndicates, local energy agencies and engineering associations) by organising webinars, workshops and training sessions. These activities focus on practical aspects of renovation services, such as financing mechanisms, engaging elected officials, and documenting successful approaches, while facilitating the sharing of lessons learned from both BAPAURA and current BAOBAP developments.  

Importantly, BAOBAP enriches the assistance model with innovative approaches such as tools for assisting user engagement (Assistance à Maîtrise d’Usage) or Energy property management. 

Looking Ahead 

At the end of BAOBAP in August 2026, all the work carried out through the project will be disseminated to regional stakeholders via the Regional Resource Centre for Tertiary Building Renovation, animated by AURAEE. This will ensure the long-term sustainability and widespread adoption of the tools and methods developed, empowering local authorities and energy actors across the region. This will ensure the long-term sustainability and widespread adoption of the tools and methods developed, empowering local authorities and energy actors across the region. 

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!