The European project CommONEnergy has examined the sub-sector of shopping centres, which is the only one with a renovation rate of about 4.4% per year. As a consequence, more than 60% of the shopping centre building stock will be upgraded by 2030, representing a unique trigger point to realise sustainable energy-savings solutions along the planned aesthetic renovations.

The policy recommendations are based on expertise and research from over 23 organisations and 3 demonstration cases and grouped under four main themes:

• Engaging stakeholders,
• Communicating the benefits of renovation,
• Promoting energy efficient technology packages, and
• Supporting the energy transition.

For example, CommONEnergy believes that e-vehicle charging stations should be supplied by an increasing share of energy from renewable energy sources. In one of the shopping centre demo cases, at the COOP Grosseto in Italy, a photovoltaic system produces energy to power the shopping centre and to charge Electric Vehicles (EVs). The use of EVs supports the European Commission’s long-term vision to guide the transformation towards a low carbon and resource efficient society, and shopping centres with EV charging stations attract more customers thanks to new services, promote sustainability and improve their image.

Building on the project’s demo cases, and giving concrete examples of the benefits coming from the renovation of shopping centres, the recommendations presented in the paper can serve as an important basis for a more ambitious revision of the EPBD and a better recognition of the strong role shopping centres can play in achieving the EU energy efficiency targets.