Cooperation between the City Municipality of Velenje, its Climate and Energy Office, building managers, apartment owners, technical experts and energy advisers has made the path from initial information to bid comparison and renovation works easier to navigate.

From the first expert meeting to concrete renovations

A key step in developing Velenje’s local support model was the expert meeting “One-stop shop: the status of and support for residential renovation in Velenje”, held at the Climate and Energy Office on 23 October 2025. It brought together the municipality, building managers, apartment owners, designers, contractors, the Eco Fund and other organisations.

Participants examined the full renovation journey, from identifying building needs and preparing technical documentation to financing, collecting bids, decision-making and quality implementation. The discussion confirmed that subsidies alone are not enough. Owners also need clear information, coordinated expert support and procedures they can trust.

Building managers connect owners with experts

Renovating a multi-apartment building requires many owners to make joint decisions. Building managers therefore play an important role in communication, collecting consent, preparing the process and coordinating contractors. In Velenje, close cooperation with Vesta dom and the local support network has helped strengthen owners’ confidence and move renovation plans towards implementation.

In March 2026, the City Municipality of Velenje reported that building managers expected renovations on more than 40 multi-apartment buildings during the year. This indicates a shift from isolated cases towards a larger pipeline of systematically prepared projects.

Photo story: From deteriorated to energy efficient buildings

 

The state of the residential neighbourhood in Velenje before and after renovation.

The building before and after the energy retrofit. A well-designed retrofit must take into account energy, technical, safety, and architectural considerations.

Work in progress: installation of thermal insulation on the building envelope. The quality of the result depends on clear design documentation and supervision of the work.

The Velenje OSS Office provides residents with free expert assistance in planning energy-efficiency renovations.

After implementing energy-efficiency measures, the renovated building envelope improves energy efficiency and living conditions.

Transparent collection and opening of bids

An important element of the Velenje approach is the transparent collection, opening and comparison of bids. The first pilot procedure with independent one-stop shop support was held at the Climate and Energy Office on 6 February 2026, and the approach has since been used in further procedures.

Bids are opened according to a predefined procedure in the presence of the building manager, representatives of apartment owners and independent experts. The comparison considers not only price but also completeness, compliance with the bill of quantities, proposed materials, deadlines, references, warranties and other conditions affecting quality and risk.

The process involves technical experts from the Building and Civil Engineering Institute ZRMK, energy advisers from the ENSVET network, representatives of the Eco Fund and LIFE Renov-AID, and the local Climate and Energy Office. The one-stop shop does not decide for owners or select the contractor. It makes the procedure easier to understand and supports an informed decision.

Video: An example of a bid-opening meeting supported through the one-stop shop

Technical quality matters as much as price

Experience in Velenje shows that contractor selection must be supported by sound technical preparation. If documentation and bills of quantities are unclear or inconsistent, bids cannot be compared objectively and the risks of additional work, higher costs and disputes increase.

GI ZRMK experts contribute to the assessment of technical solutions and project inputs. ENSVET advisers provide independent energy advice and information on suitable measures, financing and Eco Fund incentives. The Velenje example therefore illustrates what a practical local one-stop shop should offer: connected support through several stages of the renovation journey rather than information alone.

A local entry point in the centre of Velenje

The Climate and Energy Office in the Čuk Creative Centre is the core of the local support system. Residents can obtain information about renovation measures, energy advice, available incentives and the next steps in one place.

Virtual visit: Walk through the Climate and Energy Office Velenje

Video report: VTV Magazin, 24 February 2026

Local cooperation that leads to implementation

Velenje demonstrates that renovation progresses faster when responsibilities are clear and owners can rely on a trusted local network. The municipality provides coordination and guidance on spatial requirements, the building manager leads communication with owners, technical experts help secure robust project inputs, ENSVET provides independent energy advice, and the one-stop shop connects these steps into a more transparent renovation journey.

The result is not only prepared projects and opened bids, but renovations that are now visible on the buildings themselves.