The green transformation in existing residential areas is an important basis for building an ecological civilized city and an inevitable requirement for energy conservation and emission reduction in the construction industry.The practical characteristics was summarized of the governance of existing building energy-saving renovation projects in foreign countries from four aspects: economic incentives, laws and regulations, energy-saving publicity and education, and contract energy management. The current situation was expounded of governance practice of China’s existing building energy-saving renovation projects from four aspects: laws, regulations and standards, financial incentive incentives, the EPC(energy performance contracting) model, and the use of energy-saving technologies. At last, the practical difficulties and bottlenecks were analyzed of green renovation projects in existing residential areas and puts forward practical countermeasures, so as to promote the long-term development of green renovation projects in existing residential areas.