Towards the collective renovation of our housing stock.

How do we improve the energy performance of our building stock in a collective and affordable way, not only to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve our sustainability targets, but also to increase local entrepreneurship and improve the quality of housing?

Why an Energy District?

Display Case

We harvest knowledge and opportunities by walking on site. Through portraits of residents and experts, we collect what is going on and bundle the needs into a sharper question.

Action plan

The technology is ready for low-energy building, but only a collective approach can accelerate it. We need to share both space and energy. Working on a neighbourhood scale is key.

Building Site

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1. Coordination platform: Local authorities and representatives from the district use a coordinated approach to jointly set up a platform to coordinate energy projects in the neighbourhood 
A district's businesses, residents, managers and directors are determined to set up projects related to building renovation, local energy generation and energy storage. An energy district is not concerned with a loose collection of quick wins or pilot projects. On the contrary, there is a need for an integral and coherent programme that ultimately includes all buildings and households. To this end, a district-level, coordinating platform is established, where a town or municipality, together with local organisations such as schools, social housing companies, district centres and sports associations, as well as developers, energy suppliers, investors and citizen representatives, get together and are supported by experts (see the example of the ‘Coordinating platform’ in the Brussels Northern Quarter). This creates a structured form of exchange and a new organisational model for actors to work together. First and foremost they map out the energy potential and identify the needs and wishes of the residents (see, for example, the socio-technical mapping of Bospolder-Tussendijken in Rotterdam). A customised programme is subsequently developed within the coordination platform and a ‘district director’ is appointed to provide tailored support and unburden residents. The results are carefully monitored and the actions are adapted if need be. The district's transformation is a coherent and integral project. 
bouwstenen:Brussels Northern Quarter Energy Coordination PlatformLEAP Bospolder-Tussendijken
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2. Collective renovation programme: The building and services sector develops the techniques and business models to tackle multiple properties at the same time
A selective approach applies in residential districts, such as insulating the roof or installing solar panels, primarily achieved by individual, wealthy residents. However, an integral and collective approach means financial-energy efficiency as well as social gains: lower quotations, faster building work, heat gains for neighbours, a stronger sense of community and social inclusion. Contractors and material producers adapt their business model so they can carry out fast, large-scale and collective renovation work (see, for example, the Dutch ‘Energy Leap’ or ‘Machiels Building Solutions’). At the same time we see it is quite a challenge to get all households in a district on board and that in Belgium a collective mentality is not commonplace. New organisations and intermediaries try and unburden people and thus develop a mobilising mechanism for collective renovation (see, for example, ‘Energent’, which goes from door to door in the district). 
bouwstenen:Energent
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3. Energy communities: Citizens and local organisations take ownership of energy-exchange projects in their district
The energy generated in a local energy community can be mutually exchanged, ideally between actors with different consumption patterns. Instead of feeding surplus power back into the grid, more people can benefit from locally-generated, renewable energy. For example, citizens can jointly invest in solar panels on large roofs in the neighbourhood (such as on a school or warehouse). This generates more energy than they can consume at certain times and the surplus can be shared or sold to members who need it at that moment. Making effective agreements about the distribution keys, the use of data and maintenance of the shared infrastructure is crucial in this scenario. The energy community takes control of its energy! A form of ownership and awareness emerges with regard to local energy generation and consumption. And even if you do not possess the capital to invest, you can purchase local energy at a lower tariff. Although at the moment directly sharing or selling power to neighbours is not yet legally permissible in Belgium, a new regulatory framework is currently being developed. 
bouwstenen:SunGilles / VlogaertNos Bambins
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4. New financing models: Private, public and cooperative players collectively establish an ambitious investment fund
New financing models must make it possible to roll out investments in the energy transition on a large scale. The current system of grants aimed at individual, wealthy citizens fails to reach enough people. An ambitious investment fund should be able to ‘keep rolling’: investment in the renovation of local generation pays for itself after a certain period of time and can be reinvested. Authorities can focus on social housing and vulnerable groups (see, for example, ‘Dampoort KnapT OP!’, in which ‘noodkopers’ (people forced to buy substandard property at inflated prices) are helped to renovate their homes). In addition, citizens set up (regional) cooperatives to install solar panels, wind turbines or heat grids (see ‘Klimaan’ in Mechelen). Many of them decide to reinvest the profits in local (social) projects. Finally there are private ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) that prefinance energy-efficient renovation work and develop new innovative products and techniques with the return on their investment (see ‘Wattson’). An investment model featuring a mix of private, public and cooperative resources can reconcile these three objectives. 
bouwstenen:EnergentDampoort KnapT OP!
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5. Public energy strategy: Local authorities adopt a strategic approach to the public space and their building stock
Lots of infrastructure in the public space or in public buildings, consume energy too. They simultaneously offer a great many opportunities for generating renewable energy. What if we installed solar panels on public roofs and used the power generated for street lighting, bus and metro stops or even electric charging points? Green and pruning waste from public parks could also be systematically collected and composted in a biogas plant (see the New Administrative Centre in Brasschaat). As a result, generating energy in the public space becomes a public service. Local authorities serve as a good example. They use the public space and buildings efficiently and the publicly generated renewable energy is made available to everyone. 
bouwstenen:New Administrative Centre in Braaschaat
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6. District buffer: Energy distributors provide storage capacity in the district as part of the fixed energy infrastructure
The major challenge in generating renewable energy is that it is not constant and thus (literally) varies depending on the position of the sun, on wind, water and the seasons. If we want to consume electricity or heat in the evening, which has been generated during the day, we have to be able to store it temporarily. Instead of buffering our energy individually, it is more logical to store energy at the district level (see the example of the district battery in Oud-Heverlee). It is more energy efficient and more interesting economically. But the technology is still being developed and is often extremely expensive. In order to structurally embed ‘district buffers’ they must form an integral component of our district infrastructure. Can we devise a system in which energy storage is structurally organised at the district level by the city or by energy distributors, similar to the way the sewer system or a heat grid works today? This would result in a form of public-private co-financing: the energy is generated in a decentralised manner by citizen cooperatives and the infrastructure is provided through a centralised set-up. 
bouwstenen:Oud-Heverlee district battery
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7. Heat grid: Industrial or other players supply residual heat. Grid operators and local authorities jointly invest in the public space
A heat grid uses residual heat from factories or other heat sources to heat homes and businesses (see ‘Oostveld’ in Eeklo). The central heat source is connected to customers using underground pipes, via a heat transfer station, and offers an alternative to existing, individual heating boilers. The construction of a heat grid requires major infrastructure works, is extremely expensive (at least a million euros per kilometre) and is thus only profitable if the entire district can be connected. Two or more connection junctures are often used, intended to gradually convince residents. The investment is also an opportunity to carry out work in the public space, such as to replace the sewer system, the climate-adaptive redevelopment of a paved square or to construct a new cycling path. Opening up the street offers opportunities to invest in the future. 
bouwstenen:Warmtenet Eeklo (Eeklo Heat Grid)
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9. Supra-local programme: Regional and federal governments develop the legislative framework, tools and knowledge to replicate energy districts
The energy transition and the corresponding large-scale wave of renovation work, are a European and national objective. This is why our supra-local authorities are developing the tools needed to support a multitude of local projects. Firstly they are working to create a stimulating environment in which energy districts can flourish: developing the incentive for having existing buildings switch to renewable energy and be renovated en masse (such as a CO2 tax on energy tariffs or the decision in the Netherlands to no longer use natural gas by 2050). Subsequently, national programmes play a role in learning from ongoing initiatives and in developing the necessary tools and capacity to support local districts (see the Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme in the Netherlands). Bundling and exchanging expertise leads to energy districts being replicated on the ground. 

bouwstenen:Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme
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8. Monitoring: Technology and innovation firms facilitate the analysis and transmission of data on energy consumption and generation
Continuous data assessment is necessary to align the variable peaks in renewable energy generation with consumption, to assess and adapt building performance and to identify possible opportunities to match stakeholders in the district and thus limit losses. This involves varying degrees: from collecting and visualising data, or a community dashboard that facilitates the exchange between shareholders, to a fully digital twin for taking real time decisions regarding an entire territory. Several new businesses and platforms are developing the technology and business cases required to carry out this data monitoring (see the example of ‘WeSmart’). In doing so it is crucial that more data is available and that possible privacy considerations (such as publishing personal energy bills, detailed 3D models and power generation data at building level) are clarified. 
bouwstenen:WeSmart

Both private and public initiatives are putting their shoulders under the energy transition. How do all these Building Blocks fit into a legislative and spatial framework that stimulates investment and do we succeed in sharing the long-term profits fairly?

Discover the map with all the Building Blocks

Building blocks

Sharing renewable energy in the energy community 'Nos Bambins'.
© Ivan Put

Energy Districts

Nos Bambins

The pilot project ‘Nos Bambins’ in Ganshoren shares the power generated by solar panels on the roof of a school with several neighbours in the street, making it one of the first energy communities in Brussels.

Aerial view of the Northern Quarter, 2018
© VOKA, 2018

Energy Districts

Brussels Northern Quarter Energy Coordination Platform

The aim of the Coordination Platform is to bring together and put into use the tools, funds and stakeholders in order to make the Brussels Northern Quarter a Positive Energy District (PED). This body must develop a vision for the district as a whole and coordinate the various individual energy projects.

Energy Districts

Dakparkschool

A school as a catalyst to engage the surrounding streets in the energy transition

Energy Districts

WeSmart

WeSmart's digital community dashboard enables energy communities to consult their energy generation and consumption in real time, so they can take smart decisions and thus optimise their energy bills.

Sharing solar power in SunGilles
© CityMine(d)

Energy Districts

SunGilles / Vlogaert

In the SunGilles housing block tenants are involved in sharing the energy generated on the roof. This pilot project demonstrates how people without any capital can participate in an energy community.

Natural gas-free districts in the Netherlands

Energy Districts

Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme

By 2050, the Netherlands aims to be natural gas-free. The Natural Gas-Free Districts Programme is a supra-local programme that unites several local test sites to draw collective lessons, and set in motion the replication of natural gas-free (energy) districts.

Tree management in Brasschaat in the spotlight, Brasschaat
© Brasschaat

Energy Districts

New Administrative Centre in Braaschaat

In the New Administrative Centre in Braaschaat pruning waste from the municipality is used to heat the town hall.

Before and after the renovation, Gent
© Fred Debrock, Gent

Energy Districts

Dampoort KnapT OP!

In the Dampoort KnapT OP! project the OCMW set up a rolling fund to ensure vulnerable families can also carry out the necessary energy renovation work.

Energy Districts

Warmtenet Eeklo (Eeklo Heat Grid)

The Municipality of Eeklo is taking the lead in Belgium with the construction of its heat grid. The heat grid is not only the largest in the country, but is also controlled by citizens.

Door-to-door round Neighbourhood Site
© Energent

Energy Districts

Energent

Energent invests money from its cooperative members in renewable energy projects and in achieving energy savings. In addition, the organisation is committed to providing related energy services to mobilise and unburden citizens.

Energy Districts

Klimaan

Klimaan is an example of a cooperative that uses citizens’ capital to invest in renewable energy as well as in other commons such as water, land or air. Klimaan is a regional community with locally-anchored subgroups.

De Vlaamse Staak: future-proof, sustainable business park

Energy Districts

Wattson

Wattson is a Belgian ESCO (Energy Service Company). The company focuses on the integral renovation of projects, which combine several energy-saving measures with installing renewable energy. Wattson makes the investments, which are repaid using the budget freed up as a result of the lower energy bills.

District battery Oud - Heverlee, 2021, Oud - Heverlee
© Tim Dirven, Oud - Heverlee 2021

Energy Districts

Oud-Heverlee district battery

The first district battery in Oud-Heverlee demonstrates that energy storage at district level to eliminate generation peaks and unburden the electricity grid, can evolve into an innovative and collective district project.

Work session - Bospolder-Tussendijken in the spotlight
© Frans Hanswijk, 2018

Energy Districts

LEAP Bospolder-Tussendijken

A coordinated approach for a Local Energy Action Plan in the Rotterdam district of Bospolder-Tussendijken is using the energy transition as a means to improve the whole district's standard of living.

Energy Districts

De Nieuwe Dokken

A district’s residents share ownership of their energy infrastructure

Energy Districts

Brabo I

An architecture office becomes mediator to enrol residents in a renovation strategy

Energy Districts

Verbiest

A renovation that thoroughly questions habits

Logbook

08.11.22publication
PREFIGURATIONS: exhibition guide

Not only were our tales on transformation told by our human guides the past few months, but the printed exhibition guide also took you along prefigurations of our societies, neighbourhoods and landscapes.

Some of you took a copy home, to colleagues, to family and friends. The tales are now ready to live their own lives. You can browse the booklet yourself and get carried away by the narratives told and be surprised by the projects involved.

Browse the exhibition guide

10.06.21video
Livestream recording #4: Towards a New European Practice

A conversation with Dirk Somers, Koen Wynants, Nadia Casabella, Mike Emmerik, Hanne Mangelschots, Denis Cariat, Alessandro Rancati, Lene De Vrieze and Joachim Declerck.

The aim of The Great Transformation 2020-2030 social initiative is to fill in the missing link: the lack of connections between the many experiments and practices in the field and the ambitious top-down goals. The starting point of this initiative is that we often tend to invest a lot of energy in developing plans and major agreements, while the real question concerns the shift to taking action. How can these great ambitions be implemented on our streets, in our neighbourhoods, industry, etc. How do we activate and support the various actors in carrying out these projects? The Great Transformation has the ambition to pool public, private and civil society strengths and expertise, to co-create acceleration strategies for strategic recovery and transition projects such as food parks, energy districts and future-oriented climate streets. Using the power of imagination, we form coalitions and formulate strategic sites that can be realised between now and 2030.

The first discussion of this afternoon is based on existing practices that provoke change or respond to the changing challenges. What kind of practice do we actually need most? In the second discussion we position the initiative of The Great Transformation in the context of a larger network of this type of environment to mobilise and accelerate innovative practices in order to achieve an implementation wave – the topic of the concluding discussion. How do we imagine and create the pathways towards the ambitions of the Green Deal? What are the necessary conditions for accelerating the shift to action?

The Great Transformation is an independent learning environment, incubator and public programme, initiated by a diverse group of social actors. It focuses on the concrete implementation of European and national recovery plans and the Green Deal, and is a partner initiative of New European Bauhaus.

Programme:

13:00 – 14:15
Round-table 1: Architecture and Transition
With Dirk Somers (Bovenbouw Architectuur), Koen Wynants (Commons Lab) and Nadia Casabella (1010 architecture urbanism)

14:30 – 15:45
Round-table 2: Platforms for Practices
With Denis Cariat (Charleroi Métropole), Hanne Mangelschots (Architecture Workroom Brussels) and Mike Emmerik (Independent School for the City)

16:00 – 16:15
The Great Transformation: initiative and online platform

16:15 – 17:00
Round-table 3: Landing the Green Deal
With Alessandro Rancati (New European Bauhaus), Dirk Somers (Bovenbouw Architectuur) and Denis Cariat (Charleroi Métropole)

Moderated by Joachim Declerck (Architecture Workroom Brussels)

03.06.21diagram
Designing the Renovation Wave - The Challenge of our Built Environment

This map showing the built environment in the Brussels – Flanders region, illustrates the size of the challenge for the collective renovation needed in order to tackle the energy question.

03.06.21video
Livestream recording #3 - ENERGY DISTRICTS: DESIGNING THE RENOVATION WAVE

How do we improve the energy performance of our building stock in a collective and affordable way, not only to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve our sustainability goals, but also to increase local entrepreneurship and improve the quality of living?

Around this question, we opened the second workspace on the online platform of The Great Transformation on Thursday June 3. For the occasion, we start a conversation with architect and urban designer Eva Pfannes (OOZE), development activist Jim Segers (CityMine(d)), energy expert Ruben Baetens (3E) and Joachim Declerck (AWB) during the Great Transformation Session - Energy Districts: Designing The Renovation Wave.

Our existing building stock is one of the largest emitters of CO2 and is still extremely dependent on fossil fuels. Raising the performance of our ageing homes is therefore necessary and at the same time represents a leap in living quality. Moreover, local energy production keeps the profits with the users. If we tackle this together, we can not only reduce the cost, but also strengthen the neighbourhood feeling and social cohesion in a neighbourhood. The big challenge is to mainstream this type of energy districts.

Which organisational capacity, business model and approach is needed? Can we address residents on their own needs, problems and motivations? How can the construction, innovation and services sector, cooperatives, local governments, the Brussels, Flemish and Belgian governments, energy distributors and regulators play a role in this?

02.06.21publication
Space for energy transition

On the basis of a series of stakeholder tables with architects, local politicians, developers, energy cooperatives and experts, a recommendation for a space and energy policy was formulated, which states that a neighbourhood approach can be the lever for the realisation of the energy transition.

02.06.21publication
De Lage Landen 2020–2100. Een toekomstverkenning

In the research and publication 'De Lage Landen 2020-2100. A Future Outlook', the concept of "energy districts" is proposed from a spatial analysis and hypothesis for the renewable energy transition.

02.06.21video
Portraits: #9 Simon

Electrician Simon takes a practical look at the energy problem. What is needed to heat a home sustainably? He highlights the challenge that lies ahead of us to make society energy-neutral on a large scale. His conclusion: the right individual choices make a difference, but even more important is that those choices are made as soon as possible and by as many people as possible at the same time.

18.05.21video
Portraits: #7 Koen

The Rolling Climate Fund provides low-threshold loans to citizens so they can make their homes energy efficient in a single process. Economist Koen explains that because monthly savings on energy bills are higher than the repayments, a comfortable home is also within reach for people on a lower income.

18.05.21video
Portraits: #5 Els

Solar panels and local green energy for any budget, big or small. In Sint Amandsberg, near Ghent, the Buurzame Stroom city programme makes it possible for Els and her fellow residents to benefit too - without boosting gentrification.

28.04.21community
Report Walking Workshop: Coordination Platform Energy Brussels Northern District

On the 28th of April in the Brussels Northern District a Walking Workshop has been organised. This was positioned within the framework of the Coordination Platform Energy, initiated by the City of Brussels and in collaboration with 3E and Architecture Workroom Brussels. The walk had the ambition to explore and harvest the specific local potentialities and needs to start envisioning a comprehensive and integrated process to build a Positive Energy District in this peculiar neighbourhood.

Different mobilized and active actors in the field of the energy transition, also part of the ongoing exchanges organised within the Coordination Platform, have been invited to reflect together during this district exploration. Here we focused on how we should collectively start to envision and realize the energy transition in the Northern District, by identifying potential local energy projects.
At the same time experience of other Belgian cases where the energy question has been put central in developing local energy production and in strategizing upon a differentiated local energy district, have been part of the discussion.

In fact, during the walk several pitches were given by experts to fuel the conversation with specific knowledge. Near the Foyer Laekenois towers, Jean Frippiat from APERe gave a first pitch explaining how to set up different Local Energy Communities, bringing to the fore Nos Bambins and SunGilles as examples.
Afterwards as we continued into the Senne parc, Chloé Verlinden from CityMine(d) explained their current project SunGilles and how they are trying to set up a LEC with the inhabitants of a social housing block. Clear in the discussion was that the energy question needs to enter the daily life of the neighbourhood, where citizens, public and private actors and stakeholders can play a key role in building this energy district. This would imply collective mobilization of the neighbourhood, where sensibilization around the reduction of energy consumption, and the local production are central questions for this shift.

Once close to the port and the location of the future Sports Tower, the group started reflecting and discussing on how new buildings and local transformations could represent a crucial opportunity to implement local energy production. In this framework Anne-Sophie Vanhelder, working at the CityTools and Olga Bagnoli, from the City of Brussels, gave an overview regarding the work they are developing within the Contract de Quartier Durable, as an opportunity to further implement and embed the energy question in the local transformations.

Therefore, clear in the discussion was that an energy district in the Northern Quarter needs to tackle many local questions at the same time, and that an integrated way to structure this pivotal change is needed. This was the ground in which the presentation from Wannes Vanheusden from 3E laid in. He illustrated the concept of a community dashboard, how it would funtion and how it constitutes an instrument to support an integral transformation of the district towards a PED. The concept of a community dashboard was further enriched by Boniface Nteziyaremye, part of the team of WeSmart, reporting the experience and the work done for the Tivoli project.
The walk concluded with a broader reflection on what those experiences would bring in the Northern District. In fact, the walk represented a good opportunity to start imagining concrete coalitions around certain projects and concepts. In the Northern District the discussion represented a testing moment to identify fertile ground to start working on the Positive Energy District. As a result of the walk, three specific concepts seemed relevant to start taking action towards an energy project in the neighbourhood:

The first component is related to the envisioning and building up of a Local Energy Community. This would mean that by building local mobilisation of residents by initiating possible dynamics for citizens engagement and co-creation, we would look into the local pattern of consumption and build local energy exchanges. The starting point could be around the Foyer Laekenois community

Furthermore, the new building developments, which characterizes the dynamics of the Northern District, has been identified as a good opportunity to start thinking about how the regulations as an urban planning instrument are pivotal in enhancing the local energy production. The development of the Sports Tower, along the canal seemed like a good starting point to tap into this discussion.

At the same time, the ongoing process built in the framework of the Contract de Quartier Durable was highlighted as a potential testing ground to further investigate and initiate dynamics of collective renovation of the local housing stock, starting from the Masui neighbourhood in the district.

Organisers:
City of Brussels, 3E, Architecture Workroom Brussels,

Participants:
Chloé Verlinden (CityMine(d)), Jean Frippiat (APERe), Ruta Aleks (1010au), Fred Tourné (Befimmo SA), Brigitte Auquier (Brussels Environment- Energy Unit), Anne-Sophie Vanhelder (CityTools), Alexandre Vanheule (Tractebel-Engie), Christophe Pourtois (Foyer Laekenois), Lien Dewit (Municipality Schaarbeek), Jonathan Lukas (Municipality Schaarbeek), Thomas Deweer (Up4North), Boniface Nteziyaremye (WeSmart), Stijn Oosterlynck (University of Antwerp), Donatienne Wahl (Chef cabinet Hellings), Laurent Du Bus (City of Brussels), Arnaud Kinnaer (City of Brussels), Pierre Hendrickx (City of Brussels), Olga Bagnoli (City of Brussels - Urban renovation), Roeland Dudal (AWB), Chiara Cicchianni (AWB), Hanne Mangelschots (AWB), Lucas Desmet (AWB), Simon De Clercq (3E), Wannes Vanheusden (3E), Filis Zumbultas (City of Brussels), Lea Kleinenkuhnen (City of Brussels), Sofia Rueda Castellanos (City of Brussels), Coralie De Crem (City of Brussels – Energy unit), Arnaud Bastogne (City of Brussels – Energy unit)

Report Walking Workshop: Coordination Platform Energy Brussels Northern District

The first component is related to the envisioning and building up of a Local Energy Community. This would mean that by building local mobilisation of residents by initiating possible dynamics for citizens engagement and co-creation, we would look into the local pattern of consumption and build local energy exchanges. The starting point could be around the Foyer Laekenois community

Furthermore, the new building developments, which characterizes the dynamics of the Northern District, has been identified as a good opportunity to start thinking about how the regulations as an urban planning instrument are pivotal in enhancing the local energy production. The development of the Sports Tower, along the canal seemed like a good starting point to tap into this discussion.

At the same time, the ongoing process built in the framework of the Contract de Quartier Durable was highlighted as a potential testing ground to further investigate and initiate dynamics of collective renovation of the local housing stock, starting from the Masui neighbourhood in the district.

Organisers:
City of Brussels, 3E, Architecture Workroom Brussels,
Participants:
Chloé Verlinden (CityMine(d)), Jean Frippiat (APERe), Ruta Aleks (1010au), Fred Tourné (Befimmo SA), Brigitte Auquier (Brussels Environment- Energy Unit), Anne-Sophie Vanhelder (CityTools), Alexandre Vanheule (Tractebel-Engie), Christophe Pourtois (Foyer Laekenois), Lien Dewit (Municipality Schaarbeek), Jonathan Lukas (Municipality Schaarbeek), Thomas Deweer (Up4North), Boniface Nteziyaremye (WeSmart), Stijn Oosterlynck (University of Antwerp), Donatienne Wahl (Chef cabinet Hellings), Laurent Du Bus (City of Brussels), Arnaud Kinnaer (City of Brussels), Pierre Hendrickx (City of Brussels), Olga Bagnoli (City of Brussels - Urban renovation), Roeland Dudal (AWB), Chiara Cicchianni (AWB), Hanne Mangelschots (AWB), Lucas Desmet (AWB), Simon De Clercq (3E), Wannes Vanheusden (3E), Filis Zumbultas (City of Brussels), Lea Kleinenkuhnen (City of Brussels), Sofia Rueda Castellanos (City of Brussels), Coralie De Crem (City of Brussels – Energy unit), Arnaud Bastogne (City of Brussels – Energy unit)

Readings

Article

Towards the collective renovation of our housing stock.

How do we improve the energy performance of our building stock in a collective and affordable way, not only to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve our sustainability targets, but also to increase local entrepreneurship and improve the quality of housing? Why an Energy District?

Display Case

We harvest knowledge and opportunities by walking on site. Through portraits of residents and experts, we collect what is going on and bundle the needs into a sharper question.

Action plan

The technology is ready for low-energy building, but only a collective approach can accelerate it. We need to share both space and energy. Working on a neighbourhood scale is key.

Building Site

1. Coordination platform: Local authorities and representatives from the district use a coordinated approach to jointly set up a platform to coordinate energy projects in the neighbourhood

2. Collective renovation programme: The building and services sector develops the techniques and business models to tackle multiple properties at the same time

3. Energy communities: Citizens and local organisations take ownership of energy-exchange projects in their district

4. New financing models: Private, public and cooperative players collectively establish an ambitious investment fund

5. Public energy strategy: Local authorities adopt a strategic approach to the public space and their building stock

6. District buffer: Energy distributors provide storage capacity in the district as part of the fixed energy infrastructure

7. Heat grid: Industrial or other players supply residual heat. Grid operators and local authorities jointly invest in the public space

9. Supra-local programme: Regional and federal governments develop the legislative framework, tools and knowledge to replicate energy districts

8. Monitoring: Technology and innovation firms facilitate the analysis and transmission of data on energy consumption and generation

Building blocks

Logbook

Report Walking Workshop: Coordination Platform Energy Brussels Northern District

Readings

How do we improve the energy performance of our building stock in a collective and affordable way, not only to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve our sustainability targets, but also to increase local entrepreneurship and improve the quality of housing?

Why an Energy District?