Rational Energy Use in Building (UREBA)

Utilisation Rationnelle de l’Énergie dans les Bâtiments (UREBA)

Country	Belgium , applies regionally Show NUTS regions – BE3 RÉGION WALLONNE
Time period	Open ended, started on 01 January 2022
Context	Green Transition
Type	Other initiatives or policies
Category	Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future – Retrofitting buildings
Author	Dries Van Herreweghe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) and Eurofound
Measure added	23 July 2025 (updated 16 September 2025)

Background information

UREBA (Utilisation Rationnelle de l’Énergie dans les Bâtiments) is a subsidy scheme established by the Walloon Government to promote energy efficiency in buildings used by public and non-commercial organisations. The measure was restructured in October 2022 to simplify procedures and broaden access, in response to growing energy costs and the need to accelerate the decarbonisation of public infrastructure

Content of measure

The programme provides direct financial support for both preparatory studies and energy-saving renovation works. Eligible applicants include municipalities, provinces, police zones, schools, hospitals, and non-profit organisations with social, educational or environmental missions. Supported activities range from energy audits and strategic planning to insulation, window replacement, heating system upgrades, and renewable energy installations.

Subsidy rates vary depending on the type of intervention: up to 75% for audits and planning, fixed amounts per square metre for building envelope improvements, and 40% of eligible costs for other energy-related works.

A 30% bonus is available for projects that achieve significant reductions in energy consumption. Applications must be submitted prior to the start of works and are subject to technical and administrative criteria, including long-term use of the renovated buildings for public or non-commercial purposes

Use of measure

In the period up until September 2024, a total of 1100 energy renovations were peformed that utilised support from UREBA funding. This totals around 200 million euro in subsidies.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Local / regional government	Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

Unknown
Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available

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