Empowering Energy Communities: CLR introduces practical tools for better communication

The Support Service for Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR) has released two new practical guides designed to help municipalities, energy communities, and local renovation initiatives communicate more effectively with citizens and stakeholders.

Clear and engaging communication is essential to scale up citizen-led renovation across Europe. Whether mobilising homeowners for a group retrofit, building trust with local authorities, or encouraging participation in an energy community, strong narratives and structured outreach strategies are key to turning interest into action.

These two new publications provide accessible, step-by-step guidance tailored especially for volunteer-driven initiatives and small organisations.

How to Storytelling – A Guide for Energy Communities & Renovation Initiatives

Storytelling is more than a communication technique, it is a way to make renovation personal, relatable, and inspiring.

This guide explains why stories are more powerful than facts alone when it comes to motivating citizens. Renovation projects are not just about kilowatt-hours saved or CO₂ reduced, they are about people improving their homes, reducing bills, and strengthening their communities.

The guide provides:

• A simple structure for crafting compelling stories (Beginning – Transformation – End)
• Guidance on using hopeful and empowering narratives
• Practical advice for storytelling across social media, websites, blogs, and print materials
• Tips for collecting authentic community stories ethically and effectively
• Examples of how to translate technical achievements into human-centred impact

By putting people at the heart of renovation, communities can build trust, strengthen engagement, and create momentum for further action.

How to Set Up a Communication Strategy for Energy Communities

While storytelling captures hearts, a structured communication strategy ensures consistency and impact.

This second guide offers a clear seven-step roadmap for designing and implementing an effective communication strategy:

1. Define clear objectives
2. Identify target audiences and stakeholders
3. Craft key messages
4. Choose appropriate communication channels
5. Develop an action plan and timeline
6. Implement and engage continuously
7. Monitor, evaluate, and adapt

Designed with volunteer-led initiatives in mind, the guide helps communities prioritise limited resources and focus on actions that generate real results. It combines practical tools with European examples to demonstrate how energy communities can raise awareness, drive participation, build partnerships, and strengthen local credibility.

Supporting Citizen-Led Renovation Across Europe

These guides are part of CLR’s broader mission to empower communities to lead the renovation wave. By strengthening communication capacity, CLR supports energy communities in overcoming informational barriers, increasing participation, and accelerating citizen-driven renovation projects.

They complement CLR’s wider support offer, including peer exchanges, webinars, tailored advisory services, and practical resources available in the Resource Hub.

Download the Guides

• How to Storytelling – A Guide for Energy Communities & Renovation Initiatives
• How to Set Up a Communication Strategy for Energy Communities

Municipalities, community groups, and practitioners are encouraged to explore the guides and integrate them into their local engagement activities.

Strong communication builds strong communities, and strong communities drive renovation.