Drivers and barriers to the energy renovation of residential buildings in the EU: a systematic literature review

Accelerating residential Energy Renovation (ER) is critical to reducing energy poverty, addressing changing household needs, and achieving the European Union's (EU) 2050 climate-neutrality targets. Despite substantial policy ambition and investment, ER rates across the EU remain below targets, with limited integration of process-, people- and project-centred perspectives in existing research and policy approaches. This systematic literature review (SLR) adopts a novel, systems-oriented approach to examine the interrelationships between ER barriers and drivers within EU research and policy contexts. It analyses 29 studies and identifies 62 drivers and barriers, conceptually organised across process-, people-, and project-related dimensions —providing a structured analytical framework aligned with EU policy documents. Unlike previous SLRs focused on isolated barriers or single thematic issues, this framework captures the dynamic interactions shaping ER uptake and implementation, providing a more actionable evidence base for policymakers and stakeholders. The findings reveal persistent fragmentation in the literature and EU policy frameworks. Process-related factors are strongly connected to people-related influences, while project-related factors remain comparatively disconnected, highlighting gaps in integrated retrofit governance and implementation strategies. The evidence base is also dominated by case-specific studies, with limited cross-country comparative analysis to support broader EU policy learning. The study further evaluates the 2024 recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) against the SLR findings, identifying strengths and areas where the recast could better integrate people-, process-, and project-related approaches to accelerate residential ER outcomes. Overall, the review highlights a misalignment between policy ambitions and the empirical understanding of ER decision-making. It underscores the need for more integrated, multi-dimensional, and context-sensitive policy and research approaches to accelerate ER and enable large-scale transformation of the EU's inefficient housing stock.