Fossil-free districts & buildings

Ensuring our energy system’s stability through diversified local renewable energy sources, strong energy public services & improved energy efficiency & sufficiency.

what are the hubs ?

We, at Energy Cities, are driven by a desire to strengthen the role and skills of local governments. The hubs are the community spaces that help us achieving our target impacts and goals by:

  • activating local leaders to deliver living spaces that are accessible to everyone
  • empowering local communities to decide on their own future
  • inspiring a learning community of cities engaged in future proofing their economies

join the hubs !

Our members are diverse cities and local organisations.
Hubs membership is totally free!

There are no conditions to join other than the ambition and the commitment to share experiences.

Register here

Hub coordinator

Nicolas Raimondi
Nicolas Raimondi
EU Policy and Project Management

About the hub

Are you willing to reduce your municipality’s energy needs? Are you looking for ways to develop heat planning and use local heating and cooling sources efficiently while involving citizens and stakeholders? Are you developing support mechanisms to foster deep renovations and positive energy districts? Then the Fossil free districts and buildings Hub is for you!

Together, we will coordinate efforts to improve financial, technical, and human capacities for cities. We will explore local and national legislation as well as public actions to trigger the energy system’s decarbonisation, while putting in debate the questions of governance, energy public services and ownerships. Through this, we will support cities in choosing the best local energy mix and decarbonising their built environment.

Discover our learning offer!

Upcoming events All events

12 Mar

webinar
The MFF & You: negotiating with your ministries

Join us to discover what is being discussed in the different Member States, hearing testimonials from local authorities across Europe on the current negotiations in their countries. Share your ideas and gain inspiration to define your demands in your country for European funds to be channelled as effectively as possible to the local level.

18 Mar

conference

Ghent, Belgium

European Conference on City Energy

This European conference brings together mayors, councillors, city professionals, energy experts, policy makers and stakeholders from across Europe to discuss strategies and to ensure the […]

28 Apr - 30 Apr

conference

Guimaraes, Portugal

Grafting cities 2026 “nurturing the cities’ roots”

Energy Cities Annual Forum is the flagship event of the organisation, and it is hosted every year by a different member. The event became the […]

26 May

WaterWarmth Live Event: On the way to sustainable heating!

After more than 3 years of working on aquathermal energy with WaterWarmth, it is time to share what we have achieved with the project and […]

27 May - 28 May

Workshop

Vilnius, Vilnius City Municipality, Lithuania

Decarbonising buildings and energy districts for the benefit of all: how cities can drive the change

How can cities turn ambition into action on decarbonised buildings and districts? As a city, where do you start to become climate-neutral? Home renovation is a good […]

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News
Energy Cities’ Annual Forum 2026 programme unveiled: nurturing the roots for a better future

Energy Cities’ Annual Forum 2026 programme unveiled: nurturing the roots for a better future

Discover what this new edition of Grafting Cities will offer

Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economies

04/02/2026

The programme includes six thematic journeys and moments to connect.
News
“Since our services are free of charge, the funding from the region and local governments is crucial.”

“Since our services are free of charge, the funding from the region and local governments is crucial.”

Interview with Didier van Severen, General Manager of Homegrade - the One-Stop Shop of Brussels-Capital Region

Energy efficiency & Buildings
Finance & Divest
Energy retrofitting
Decarbonisation
Citizen engagement
+
Fossil-free cities

03/02/2026

In European cities, residential buildings account for about 31% of total GHG emissions (according to the 2023 Covenant of Mayors assessment). The sector represents a […]
News
New Year

New Year

Policy Op-ed

European policies
Local democracy
Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economies

26/01/2026

The expression “new year” seems to carry more meaning than ever. Everything is new: a new world (dis)order, new risks, new democratic (im)balances, new European priorities, a new (dis)organisation of international, European, national institutions…
News
The 2026 events accelerating the path to climate neutrality

The 2026 events accelerating the path to climate neutrality

These events, organised by Energy Cities or partners, have been selected for their relevance to municipalities.

Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economies

20/01/2026

To help municipalities navigate this key year and pursue their climate neutrality journey, here are important events not to miss.
Advocacy
What’s EUp? Urban initiatives and LIFE at stake in the proposed EU Facility

What’s EUp? Urban initiatives and LIFE at stake in the proposed EU Facility

What the proposed EU Facility means for the future of urban initiatives and the LIFE Programme

European policies
EU funding
Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economies

19/01/2026

We continue to unpack the European Commission's long-term budget (MFF) proposal. Today’s menu: the future of urban initiatives and the LIFE programme, and a new facility designed to cope with the uncertainty of our time.

Projects All projects

MUSE DHC

MUSE DHC

coMmUnity-led actionS for Efficient District Heating & Cooling
MUSE DHC

The MUSE DHC project (coMmUnity-led actionS for Efficient District Heating & Cooling), funded by the LIFE programme, aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s heating […]

Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Empowering Citizen-led renovation!
Support Service for Citizen-led Renovation (CLR)

Residential buildings remain among the most energy-intensive sectors, with space heating alone accounting for over 60% of household energy consumption in the European Union. Despite […]

EUREKA

EUREKA

European URban Exchanging Knowldge on climAte neutrality
EUREKA

Project context Cities take up 4% of the EU’s land area, but are home to 75% of the EU population and consume up to 80% […]

SPARKLE

SPARKLE

Sustainable Planning And Resilience Knowledge Learning Environment
SPARKLE

SPARKLE – Sustainable Planning and Resilience Knowledge Learning Environment is a pioneering programme that will develop the capacities of over 600 Local and Regional Authorities […]