The new background reports from the National Board of Housing (Boverket) and the Swedish Energy Agency for the forthcoming National Building Renovation Plan, required of every EU member state under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), mark the start of a new era in Swedish building management. It is no longer a matter of talking about energy efficiency in principle, but of delivering in practice. The pace and scale are not fully decided yet, but the direction is clear: more planning, more monitoring, and a significantly higher level of activity in improving the energy performance of the nation’s buildings.
The Plan, New Legislation, Indicators and the Path to Success
When Boverket and the Swedish Energy Agency presented their respective contributions to the National Building Renovation Plan in October 2025, they did something long requested: they drew a unified roadmap for how Sweden can move from slow renovation rates to a determined, coordinated upgrade of the entire building stock. For the first time, two major authorities speak with one voice: the building sector is not only a climate issue, but also a system of investments, health, safety and social sustainability. Boverket provides the framework – the long‑term plan, the legislative needs and the indicators. The Energy Agency provides the route: how renovations can be carried out cost‑effectively and with technical robustness.
Together they outline a map where all arrows point toward the same goals: fossil‑free operation, reduced energy use and a built environment capable of meeting both climate objectives and the energy‑price challenges of the future.
Boverket’s report states that the new Building Renovation Plan replaces previous strategies; it shall be a concrete, monitorable plan with clear pathways to 2030, 2040 and 2050. The Energy Agency adds the practical questions: when, in what sequence and at what cost? The Agency shows how measures should coincide with natural life‑cycle intervals – when façades, roofs or installations need renewal anyway – and how costs can fall dramatically when timing aligns with the building’s actual condition.
The Right Order of Measures Matters
It is no coincidence that the word sequence appears repeatedly in both reports. First the building’s energy demand must be reduced – improved envelope, ventilation with heat recovery. Then the heating system is replaced, ideally with hybrid solutions involving heat
pumps, district heating and sometimes solar thermal. Finally come controls, sensors and optimisation – the digital layer that ensures the energy savings are actually realised.
Getting the order wrong is costly, the Energy Agency stresses. An oversized heat pump in an uninsulated house can become a 30‑year misinvestment. Boverket agrees, adding the societal perspective: optimisation must be sought across the entire life cycle and reflect Swedish conditions – a low fossil share in the energy mix but high winter peak‑load challenges.
Economic, Not Technical, Barriers Dominate
Renovation is often profitable on paper, but calculations fail when incentives are split. The building owner pays for the investment, while the tenant benefits from the savings. The authorities propose green loans, state guarantees, subsidised credit lines and new rental models that allow energy‑efficiency improvements to be reflected in the rent – something that is normally not possible today, since such improvements are not interpreted as quality‑enhancing for the tenant.
The Energy Agency highlights the need for risk‑sharing: the state taking part of the first‑loss risk or guaranteeing long‑term investment. Boverket stresses that support schemes must be long‑term – stability over generosity.
Competence Shortages Across Many Roles
The renovation pace can only increase if there are enough skilled professionals. The shortage affects energy experts, project managers and property managers who can analyse energy systems, initiate change processes and follow up results. The Energy Agency also emphasises the need for digital renovation passports and certification systems.
Energy Renovation as a Process
For the industry, this means renovation becomes a matter of process and data – not only technology. For housing companies, energy renovation is no longer a project but an investment category. It requires portfolio strategy, financing design and competence development. Large actors are expected to lead the way: they can standardise methods and create reference projects that drive down costs. Private companies should also build dedicated energy‑programme resources with competence in technology, finance and communication.
For detached‑house owners the situation is both simpler and more difficult. A homeowner may decide freely but often lacks capital, advisers and time. Boverket notes that Swedish detached houses already have low fossil‑fuel dependence, but the efficiency potential is large. The Energy Agency gives clear guidance: start by reducing energy demand, not by changing technology first. Improve airtightness in the attic, insulate walls, improve
ventilation – before replacing or installing a heat pump. A smaller pump in a more efficient house gives both lower investment cost and more stable operation. Neighbours coordinating their efforts can reduce costs through joint procurement.
One of the clearest messages is the requirement for monitoring. Results must be measured, verified and reported. For property owners, measurement is essentially survival: without data it becomes difficult to prove that investments deliver results. Those who already build routines for energy logs and verification gain a head start once the plan becomes binding.
Neither authority avoids the social‑impact question. If major renovation packages lead to rent increases, the entire reform risks losing legitimacy. For the sector, communication and transparency therefore become strategic issues. Owners must demonstrate how energy renovations improve not only energy performance but also comfort and indoor climate.
And Now…
The short answer to what should be done now is: start planning, even if not all details are finalised. Survey the portfolio, plan financing, build the organisation and plan the monitoring. Boverket has provided the structure; the Energy Agency the sequence. Together the reports show clear alignment. Those who now establish programmes, secure competence and begin monitoring will be years ahead once the requirements are finalised.
The National Building Renovation Plan should not be regarded solely as an EU obligation, but as a tool for modernising the entire building sector and making energy renovation a natural part of property management.
BIM Energy is the software on the market that allows users – in the simplest possible way – to quickly and accurately identify optimal renovation packages, technically, economically and environmentally.
– Johnny Kronvall | Professor Emeritus, Civil Engineering