The EXCESS project has developed a guidebook with recommendations for local authorities to make positive energy building (PEB) solutions a strategic element in their local energy planning. The report and guide are based on a series of interviews conducted by project partners with local and regional authorities and planning experts from 15 European cities and regions.

With local energy management and decarbonisation efforts often focusing on the district-level or entire urban systems, rather than on individual buildings, EXCESS is working to demonstrate the validity and benefit of PEB solutions for the local energy transition, building owners and tenants, at four demo sites in different European climate zones, including an entire building complex in Spain.

Rolling-out support beyond demo sites, the guidebook outlines elements supporting the integration of PEB solutions in policy and planning processes in order to increase local renewable energy generation, energy efficiency and building decarbonisation rates, such as how to include PEBs in the overarching vision for sustainability, the role of including different local stakeholders, embracing institutional arrangements for PEB development, and planning positive energy buildings at building cluster level.

Read the full report here.