The session was moderated by Diana Bosfy from FEDARENE and brought together three initiatives working in different parts of Europe. The three presentations demonstrated that clarity of services, strategic bundling and accessible financing tools are central elements for effective public sector One Stop Shops.
Typology and service mapping within FACILITA
Vera Valero Escribano presented the latest results from FACILITA’s study on public sector One Stop Shops. The work covers 21 initiatives supporting public buildings across the European Union. The analysis confirms that most available literature concentrates on residential renovation. Public sector OSS models remain far less documented despite their growing importance.
FACILITA examined the service offer provided by public OSS and developed a customer journey of five stages to chart how support is delivered from the initial enquiry to project preparation. Vera underlined that the models performing best are those that accompany the client from the outset, offering clear guidance through each step rather than limiting themselves to isolated advisory services. Strong governance structures, usually led by public or semi public bodies, were identified as a key enabling factor. She also noted recurring challenges, including overlaps with other advisory schemes that can make the entry points unclear for municipalities.
GASLESS and the administrative and financial innovation behind project bundling
Silvio De Nigris introduced the GASLESS project from the Piedmont region. The programme aims to phase out the use of gas in public buildings while addressing the difficulty of mobilising renovation projects in territories where small buildings are dispersed and not attractive to the market. The region has identified a portfolio of around 800 buildings, representing about 10 percent of the stock, as the focus of its intervention.
GASLESS combines administrative and financial innovation. On the administrative side it uses systematic bundling to standardise processes and reduce the time required to prepare projects. Calls for interest are followed by a preliminary technical assessment to determine which buildings can be delivered through energy performance contracting. Bundles are created every 6 months, allowing the region to repeat the process regularly and refine it as they reduce bureaucratic steps that once required separate decisions.
On the financial side energy performance contracting plays a central role. It allows public authorities to avoid upfront design expenditure and shifts the focus towards achieved performance rather than the works themselves. Silvio underlined that the region remains dependent on European projects to sustain this work. He also recalled lessons from the earlier 2020Together project where an ESCO faced financial losses because the renovated buildings did not reach the expected sixty one percent energy savings, highlighting the importance of accurate baselines and realistic performance assumptions.
CROSSFIT and the VEB model as a pathway for structured project development
Nicholas Dodd from the Sustainable Energy Finance Association introduced the CROSSFIT project, funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. The initiative builds on the model of the Vlaams EnergieBedrijf and adapts its principles to support public authorities in preparing and financing renovation projects. CROSSFIT aims to simplify the One Stop Shop approach by combining technical guidance, procurement routes and financial options.
A central output is the four-step guide designed to help public bodies define project types, consider available framework agreements, review opportunities for bundling and choose appropriate funding and financing sources. CROSSFIT has also developed a catalogue that brings together grants, technical assistance, public and private finance, guarantees, leasing solutions and energy performance contracting. The intention is to help municipalities identify combinations that match their needs and risk profiles. Training and capacity building will form the next phase of the project in 2026, with feedback currently being collected through SEFA.
Towards clearer governance and stable financing
The meeting highlighted the need for predictable governance and long-term financial instruments that allow public authorities to plan renovation pathways. The three initiatives illustrated the importance of data, technical support and structured procurement in delivering public building renovation across diverse regional contexts. FACILITA will continue to facilitate exchanges within its Community of Practice as the project advances.
