The Hungarian NECP (2019) emphasizes the importance of energy renovation of buildings. It states that “Hungary will draw up a Long-term Renovation Strategy by March 2020”.

The National Clean Development Strategy 2020 – 2050 also affirmed that energy renovation of residential buildings plays a major role (page 42). 

The Hungarian government made some measures to enhance energetic renovations of dwellings, still, progress should be speeded up. The promised “almost zero” regulation on construction of residential buildings is delayed. The Family Home Creation Allowance does not have energy requirements for newly built apartments.

According to experts, the proportion of non-energy-efficient buildings in the EU is 70%, while it is 90% in Hungary. Current expertise emphasizes that 80% of today’s buildings will stay with us in 2050. According to the 2021 study of the Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI), “in order to meet the 2050 climate neutrality goals, 3.7 million apartments need to be renovated, which means 100,000-130,000 apartments per year.”

Deep renovation, i.e., primary energy savings of more than 60 percent, should be encouraged.

A diversified funding scheme is necessary to enhance energy efficiency in residential buildings. Such a scheme  should take into account the depth of energy renovation and the income of the household.

The aim is to avoid lock-in of outdated (fossil fuel) technology and ensure that the residential buildings have proper heat insulation, switch to a clean heating system and have refurbished windows and doors. A before-after energy audit must be carried out by a dedicated chamber/network of energy experts, whose capacity building and the audit itself should be covered by EU and state funds.

To achieve this target the government must build resources and human capacities as well, but its implementation means new jobs and competitive expertise in addition to immediate energy benefits.