Kidričevo and Ptuj, located in Slovenia’s Podravje region, were selected as a CEESEN-BENDER pilot area because many apartment buildings there are older and poorly insulated, leading to high heating costs and uncomfortable living conditions. With a combined population of around 31,500, a significant number of residents — especially elderly and low-income households — struggle to afford energy bills. By focusing on these two municipalities, the project aims to improve living conditions, reduce energy costs, and ensure that renovations benefit those who need them most. The priority buildings were built mainly between the 1950s and 1980s, are smaller multi-apartment buildings connected to district heating systems, often already have window replacements but lack façade insulation, and are home to elderly, low-income, and socially vulnerable households.

Renovating buildings in the pilot area is particularly challenging due to a combination of technical, financial, and social factors. Fragmented ownership structures require agreement among multiple apartment owners before renovation can proceed, while the process of applying for funding is administratively demanding. In Kidričevo, these challenges are even more pronounced due to cultural heritage protection requirements, which restrict standard renovation solutions and increase costs. Renovation is supported through Slovenia’s Eco Fund, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, EU Cohesion Policy funds, and EIB programmes such as InvestEU and ELENA, with a dedicated national budget of approximately €33.8 million for 2024–2026 targeting energy poverty reduction. Planned interventions focus primarily on façade insulation — the most impactful and cost-effective measure — complemented by heating system upgrades, with an estimated investment of €800,000 for the three highest-priority buildings and expected outcomes including lower heating costs, reduced energy poverty, and improved indoor comfort.