1 minute read
“RENOVATION MUST BE DONE 3X FASTER THAN IT IS DONE TODAY”
The world faces a major challenge in terms of its built infrastructure. The goal is to drastically reduce the use of fossil energy by 2050. That will require a threefold acceleration of the current renovation or rebuilding pace, warns Marlies van Holm, Program Manager Smart Energy & Built Environment at Energyville.
“This should include a focus on well-insulated building, renewable energy sources, circular solutions and low material footprint. The electrification of heating and the use of heat networks are also important components. In the future, we will use energy more intelligently at times when it is available, engage in energy-sharing, and rely on collective generation and storage.”
Energyville is a unique partnership that focuses on energy research. Partners are VITO (a leading Flemish research institute with a focus on cleantech challenges in materials research, water and land use, among others), KU Leuven, Universiteit Hasselt and imec. The Smart Energy & Built Environment Unit focuses on making the entire energy system more sustainable, including the industry and building sectors. The goal is to provide households and building owners with tailored energy advice and digital solutions. Research is also being done in the field of energy sharing and demand-response (using energy when it is available). Smart solutions are thus developed at the intersection of energy, digital innovation and as-a-service business models.
MARLIES VAN HOLM Energyville
