Lithuania has 2.8 million inhabitants. Its population density in urban and rural areas is quite different, as 67% of its people live in cities and 33% in rural areas.  In 2018, slightly more than half (59%) of the country’s population lived in multiapartmentn buildings and 41% in one-dwelling houses. Seventy-five per cent of dwellings were constructed before 1991 following Soviet-era building codes. All these buildings are in low energy efficiency classes (E and F): it was not until 1992 that a new, stricter regulation for construction was implemented.

As for the regulatory framework, the Lithuanian government is encouraging deep renovation, including new envelopes and new engineering systems, so that maximum efficiency is achieved. Regulatory and policy instruments such as the National Energy Strategy and Government Programme for multi-apartment building renovation view renovation as a key way of increasing energy efficiency in residential buildings. A national long-term building renovation strategy is under preparation so far.

National funding programmes for multi-apartment buildings offer subsidies for project development and soft loans for construction works, as well as grants for low-income earners.