The E=0 project aims to scale net zero energy retrofits * in North West Europe. The E=0 project allows housing organisations to refurbish their housing stock to net zero energy levels by combining the future energy cost savings with future maintenance costs and investing that in a performance guaranteed retrofit. This way, residents get a refreshed, warm and comfortable home at the same (or lower) cost of living. An approach that was successfully tested and proven in the Netherlands and has started to been deployed to the UK, France, Germany and Luxembourg. Energy plan to remove split incentive In order to make the model work in the social housing sector (which is our launching market for these retrofits), the split incentive problem between landlord and tenant needs to me solved. This means housing organisations have to be able to collect the energy cost savings from their tenants in the form of an energy fee or energy plan in exchange for providing them with a warm house plus some sort of energy bundle for heating, hot water and electricity for their appliances. This scheme gives housing associations the opportunity to invest this new incoming cash flow in the refurbishments, together with the savings on maintenance costs. In this way there is no need to increase the tenants’ rent. In the UK, France and Luxembourg (and Germany) housing associations are not able to collect an energy plan from their tenants on top of the rent. This means that in order to make net zero energy living a possibility at scale, regulatory changes enabling the charge of an energy plan, will be needed. Other regulatory challenges Besides the challenges around the energy plan, there are other obstacles that have to be tackled, before the wider roll out of this programme will be possible and successful. We’ve asked the different market development teams what other regulatory challenges they’re currently facing. United Kingdom “In the UK one of the biggest problems is to get a viable business case for net zero energy solutions. The challenges with the business case starts with the very low feed-in tariffs that we have here in the UK”, says Arno Schmickler, member of the UK Market Development Team. “The business case in Holland is based on a net metering scheme where it is possible to have equal exchange of power with the electricity grid. For the Dutch business case this means that the houses have to be net zero over a year. During the summer the houses will generate more electricity than will be needed, the overcapacity flows right back into the national grid. During the winter the houses need more energy than produced by the solar panels, at that moment the house will use energy from the grid. At the end of the year there is no electricity charge as long as the house delivered the net zero energy requirement. This exchange mechanism puts renewable energy generated on site at parity with other sources of energy in the national grid and thus strongly supports the Dutch business case. In the UK, however, such a free exchange with the grid is not possible. In the UK feed-in tariffs are significantly below the retail electricity price, which means the use of solar PV is almost penalised: to receive the monetary equivalent of 1kWh of grid electricity in the UK almost twice as much has to be generated by the solar PV installation, even if 100% of solar PV is exported. That means residents will have to use as much as possible of the energy that they are generating at the same time which is not achievable (day/night, summer/winter cycles) unless significant energy storage is installed.” “The demonstrators that will be delivered under the E=0 project give us a great opportunity to assess and improve the emerging solutions, not just in terms of their energy and comfort performance but also in relation to the business case for investment going forward. A smart combination of technologies and potentially a higher investment in energy storage could overcome some of the regulatory barriers that we are facing in the UK. However, it is clear that it is definitely not going to be easy here in the UK to replicate the Dutch success unless we find a supportive government that is prepared to work with us for better solutions that will deliver significant investment in our ailing housing stock, create new employment in advanced manufacturing and reduces health expenditure due to much improved air quality and eliminated fuel poverty.” France After having spoken to Pierre Lévi, from the French team, it becomes clear that their biggest challenges lie in the French building component validation system. “Every new innovation has to go through a validation process which can take up to a couple of years before new solutions get approved. When you’re working on net zero energy solutions you’re constantly looking for better products and therefore experimental room is necessary.” “For the realization of the demonstrators, this spring, we don’t really have a good solution yet. We’re trying to combine existing solutions in the smartest way to get the first pilots of the ground for a reasonable price. But if you want prices to come down and quality to get better, innovation is necessary!” Luxembourg In Luxembourg, the missing of the energy plan currently forms the biggest obstacle. In Luxemburg the Ministry of Housing pays 70% of the renovations costs that are being carried out by housing associations and therefore have a lot of influence on the daily business of these organisations. “For example, The Ministry of Housing sets the bar for rent, that’s why it is not possible to increase the rent and therefore an energy plan is needed,” explains Nicolas Zita from the Luxembourgish team. “Housing organisations really want this energy plan, because that would give them more autonomy and flexibility over their business”.  “For the demonstrators we may have found a solution. An article of the RGD (Réglement Grand-Ducal allows the housing associations to charge the tenants for the extra-services provided by the refurbishment. The comfort brought by the refurbishment could be interpreted as a service. The demonstrator team is working on this now.” Short-term solutions no option The necessary law changes won’t be made for the first demonstrators that come to the market. The objective is to develop a market towards a non-subsidised business case that is attractive for both customer/housing association as builder and/or supplier. The key to developing a successful retrofit market that will attract investment and innovation is certainty and consistency over a long term (20yrs-30yrs). By their very nature retrofit programmes can take a long time to develop and deliver and any changes or threats of changes prevents these programmes from being planned. Long-term regulation is therefore very important to stimulate the market development. Short term subsidies, periodic feed-in tariff structures or temporary permit-exceptions are not stimulating the building sector to do the large investments in innovation and production that are necessary to grow a mature market. Under the Interreg NWE project E=0, different countries experimented with getting this solution to the market, but these law changes would be necessary to make a business case that doesn’t rely on subsidies. Over the next period we recommend developing a framework for European regulation to create not only protection for consumers, tenants and social housing companies, but also to stimulate Net Zero Energy refurbishments by removing the split incentive. * Net Zero, what does that mean? Annually, a Net Zero Energy house generates sufficient energy to heat the house, provide hot water and power its household appliances. A refurbishment comes with a 30-year performance warranty on both the indoor climate and the energy performance.

This position will direct the work of the Energiesprong UK market development team of around 8 people, mainly working on two EU-funded projects - Transition Zero and E=0.  Working in a non-hierarchical structure, the post holder will ensure strategic direction and alignment of the other members of the Energiesprong UK-MDT. The role will work with and be supported by the Dutch Energiesprong Programme Director (who is directing the international coalition). The role will be available on a self-employed (indvidual contractor) basis as it is not expected to be full time. More information is available by contacting Ron van Erck or by downloading our information sheet .

Factory Zero develops, produces and delivers smart, complete Net Zero Energy systems, working in close cooperation with innovative players in the building supply industry. The start-up has been established under the NWE interreg project E=0 and has now received its first large order from construction company Dura Vermeer. Factory Zero's recently developed energy and climate module called the iCEM has been chosen by Dura Vermeer for their project with housing corporation De Goede Woning in Zoetemeer. This project will see 120 houses renovated to Net Zero Energy levels.. Net Zero Energy for everyone To make sure that everybody in the Netherlands will be able to afford a Net Zero Energy retrofit there are some hurdles that have to be overcome. One of the biggest challenges is to get the price of these refurbishments down to €45.000. This number represents the energy costs that would normally be spent on energy bills over 30 years (the life span of a house). To get the costs for these renovations down and the quality up, industrial scale solutions, innovation and smart thinking are necessary. Factory Zero is the first start-up that has successfully built an installation module that is not only smaller, better and smarter, it’s also cheaper and it looks great! Complete Net Zero Energy make overs Factory Zero is the first start-up ever that focuses entirely on industrial solutions for Net Zero Energy concepts. The team, consisting of Jan-Willem van de Groep, Desmond Hughes, Jasper van den Munckhof en Sjoerd Klijn Verlderman (all of whom were earlier involved in the organisation Stroomversnelling), works together with big industrial partners such as Mitsubishi, BASF and ABB. Besides the iCEM energy module, they are also working on the development of a complete roof and facade module. This means that they will soon be offering complete Net Zero Energy packages. In this way they are working to make Net Zero Energy make-overs affordable and easily accessible for anyone. Elements that make life easy When building Net Zero Energy houses the hardest and most expensive part is not the construction itself, rather it’s the installations and the construction elements. The production of construction elements is an area ripe for innovation and calls for new products that meet the complex needs of a Net Zero Energy retrofit whilst also being easily integrated into current building practices. Factory Zero has already has developed one such product, which is making it easier for construction companies to choose for Net Zero Energy, both in retrofits and in the construction of new buildings.. The client is always right When it comes to the client, the ambition is high: to make Net Zero Energy an appealing deal for homeowners too. In order to achieve this prices need to drop by at least 40 per cent. Therefore any new complex products need to be easy to applicable, produced at scale and with a modification factor as high as possible. In developing these products, the philosophy of Factory Zero is: the client is always right!

Energiesprong has crossed the Atlantic and landed firmly in the United States of America. The State of New York is the first state in the USA wanting to invest in the refurbishment of houses and apartment buildings to net zero energy levels on a large scale. In a demonstration of commitment to these aims, the State of New York has reserved 30 million dollars for the coming 10 years to develop a market for affordable, sustainable and future-proof retrofits. Energiesprong=RetrofitNY To make net zero energy happen in the State of New York an independent market development team is being set up by NYSERDA who will host the Energiesprong programme under the name RetrofitNY. RetrofitNY is a cornerstone initiative of NYSERDA’s multifamily programs . By adapting the  Energiesprong process to conditions in the State, RetrofitNY aims to revolutionize the building retrofit industry in New York starting with the affordable housing sector. The project will be geared towards inducing the architecture, engineering and construction industries to develop innovative technical solutions capable of transforming NY’s existing residential building stock to meet net zero levels of energy performance. Home improvement The ultimate goal of the RetrofitNY initiative is to develop a self-sufficient, private sector-based market for the implementation, at scale, of deep energy retrofit solutions, thus greatly improving energy performance, health and comfort within existing affordable housing. The initiative will offer building owners and regulators new strategies to preserve affordability and improve their buildings while combating climate change. The first requests for proposals for net zero energy retrofits should be released at the end of 2017, with the resulting retrofits constructed in 2018. Read more Garden style apartments, upstate New York

April 2017 marked the launch of the Energiesprong scaling into Germany. Based on results in The Netherlands, the Ministry of Energy in Germany (BMWI) has allocated budget to fund a market development team for the coming three years. The German energy agency dena is managing Energiesprong in Germany and will host the market development team. dena is Germany’s center of expertise for energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and intelligent energy systems. Currently, a team is being set up to run the initiative. Meanwhile the program has engaged housing organisations and solution developers interested in co-developing super energy efficient refurbishments (and new built solutions) with guaranteed performance. The Energiesprong International team is providing support to the project by sharing knowledge, helping to set up the team and co-developing the strategy for the German context. Join the project! As we are currently looking for talented, self-starting individuals that are willing and able to drive change: reach out if you would be involved. Send an email to bigalke@dena.de .

Blog by Tom Elliott, Energiesprong UK Market Development Team Making our way from Utrecht Central to the Energy Up conference through an industrial estate, we have been advised to keep an open mind in preparation. Just as we turn a corner, we spot a chicken crossing the road and that helps to set our minds for the day – this conference won’t be your usual conference and it will get you thinking. The dated exterior of the Werkspoorkathedral building where the event is being held catches us off-guard into thinking that the building is past its best. Far from it, the interior has been brought back into use via an impressive retrofit, utilising modern technologies whilst maintaining the industrial equipment once used to manufacture steel for trains and bridges back in the 1960s. How fitting that this National Energiesprong conference is being held in a mid-19 th century building which has been brought back into the 21 st century using creativity and craftsmanship. In addition to the impressive venue, the initial crowd and atmosphere is also striking and all participants are actively engaged in positive and productive conversation, instantly highlighting the positive attitude of all stakeholders. Attending are representatives from Energiesprong Holland, France, Italy and UK. Interactive Energiesprong learning sessions in an inflatable igloo Having looked at the Dutch Energiesprong journey exhibited in a very creative way and fuelled by coffees and pastries, we then head towards the first of our interactive Energiesprong learning sessions in an inflatable igloo, hosted by Ron van Erck, Head of Energiesprong International development. After a short and unexpected power outage resulting in an impromptu team building exercise to hold up the slow and comical deflation of the igloo, power is restored and Ron begins to present the practical journey of Energiesprong in Holland. What’s instantly clear is just how much work, analysis and learning has been achieved by the Dutch E=0 programme. On the surface, the concept of Energiesprong is so simple, but beneath the intriguing name is a complex web of information which has been used to further develop and improve the approach to ensure that all project deliverables are achieved – contract management, resident involvement, project management, supply chain training etc. These marginal yet important and continuous steps towards improvement remind of the concept of marginal gains, which transformed and revolutionised the Team GB Cycling Team. After all, we are in Holland where bicycles outnumber humans! Onto our next session, where we are discussing the technological improvements used for Energiesprong. Taking the lead is Sjoerd who had worked as a senior manager at BAM for 15 years and has now begun advising local contractors how best to evolve and develop their business practices in order to ensure that they are ready for Energiesprong – oh, and yes he has started his very own Factory Zero as well! There is no doubt that the supply chain have done a great job of collaborating to ensure that quality control is maintained and automation used where possible, helping to drive down costs and improve the customer experience. Laser surveys, CNC machining and pre-fabricated facades are just some of the innovation now employed on the Dutch projects. Collaboration, collaboration, followed by collaboration Before lunch we have one final lecture, this time on how to create the right match between housing association and supplier. The key messages to come across here are collaboration, collaboration, followed by collaboration. A large part of the success experienced by Energiesprong seems to be down to the fact that housing partners and industry have worked hard not only to understand each other but moreover to build a strong, trust-based collaboration in order to derive the best outcome for all involved. The strength of the relationship between the two parties is highlighted when, with a big smile, the client tells us to expect some failure but ensure that this is used as a learning experience. We leave the session feeling enthused by the rare evidence of such a positive relationship between client and contractor, and head off to the mini-bus which is taking us to our site visit to view a completed Energiesprong project. What is not to like about Holland After a short drive through Utrecht we exit the mini bus onto a residential road and for a moment can’t quite seem to figure out where the Energiesprong units are. I assume that we are a shot walk away from them until Arno from the UK Market Development, points to the houses just across the road. The similarity of the surrounding non-Energiesprong facades initially makes it hard to realise which are which, as the exterior brick work, roof pitch and window positions are exactly the same. It is only when we take a step back and notice the impressive PV array running from one end of the terrace to the other that we are able to distinguish. For me, this highlights the true brilliance of Energiesprong – the mechanism to upgrade the performance of a building to net zero energy standards, upgrading the façade without transforming or even altering the physical appearance of the surrounding community. It’s hard not to admire the achievements made so far by Energiesprong and really does show what can be achieved by the model, at the heart of which is industry and housing partner collaboration to develop comfortable homes for residents. Feeling inspired and excited to be part of the Energiesprong team, we head back to the main event for a final closing speech followed by drinks and a chance to network. This was a truly excellent trip to a great country which is taking the lead on net zero energy buildings. What is not to like about Holland - cyclists seem to outnumber cars, the people are friendly and welcoming and they have Government thinking to the future. Perhaps this is why the rumours are saying that America First, but Holland second.

To test and improve the commercial viability of the Energiesprong concept in the UK housing association Moat is delighted to be a partner in the EU’s Interreg NWE E=0 project, which provides funding for a pilot of ten whole-house retrofits in Maldon, Essex. Housing association Moat is proud of their commitment to environmental sustainability and performance, which is why they were so keen to get involved with the Energiesprong concept. Their sustainability strategy focuses on developing environmentally friendly homes that help to prevent fuel poverty and reduce carbon footprints. However to bring some of their older homes in line with the strategy, they needed a more innovative solution. Whole house retrofits help to reduce carbon emissions as a direct result of installing energy efficiency measures. The concept also helps tackle the number of households that are in fuel poverty by producing highly insulated homes with the ability to generate energy on site, which can be used for heating, lighting and hot water. All of this is what made the Dutch Energiesprong model so appealing to Moat. To test and improve the commercial viability of the Energiesprong concept in the UK Moat is delighted to be a partner in the EU’s Interreg NWE E=0 project, which provides funding for a pilot of ten whole-house retrofits in Maldon, Essex. Selection of houses The housing association has a lot of homes in the area of Maldon, Essex as well as a strong, productive relationship with the local authority. In the past they also carried out other energy efficiency initiatives in Maldon, such as external wall insulation projects and air source heat pump installations. For the pilot project Moat needed to narrow down a list of 900 potential homes to just 20. Using Google’s street view function as well as satellite imagery, they were able to visualise which houses would be suitable for the innovative retrofit approach. Semidetached houses lend themselves well to the concept, which is why they feature prominently in the 20 homes on the shortlist. “ We want our customers to love where they live” The next step is to half their prospective pilot homes to just ten by recording building data, carrying out energy assessments and undertaking stock condition surveys. Moat will soon meet with the people living in the homes on their retrofit shortlist to discuss their energy bills and get their input into the energy efficiency of each home. Ben James, Energy & Sustainability Coordinator at Moat:  “We’re really looking forward to enhancing the appearance and comfort of our homes as we want our customers to love where they live – and it is equally important that our homes are affordable to run. However as a social landlord we also have a commitment to consider the health and wellbeing of our customers. Retrofitting our homes with energy efficient technologies has clear health benefits to those who live in them, supporting our shared aim with Energiesprong of delivering desirable, warm and affordable homes for life.” About Moat Moat is a housing association working across South East England to provide high quality homes and services to around 20,000 homes. Their communities include people with varying tenures so they offer affordable homes for rent and they have a very strong focus on home ownership. For nearly three decades, Moat developed homes for shared ownership to help people make their first move onto the property ladder. Their ambition is to bring an end to housing need. Moat is also a founder member of Energiesprong UK, a partnership of leading housing providers and construction companies, as well as industry and expert policy partners. Proporties have been shortlisted for the solution and final decisions will be made in due course.

Sébastien Delpont is manager of the Energiesprong France programme and Déborah Knight is in charge of communications and tenant engagement. We spoke with them about the challenges they are facing. “In France, we are working on five main issues with the stakeholders” Sébastien Delpont explains. “The business model and analysis of housing stocks, the energy plan, the contracting scheme, improvement of technical solutions and last but not least tenant engagement.” Business model and stock analysis: Working on creating a dynamic “Last year we worked on the French finance model for Energiesprong and created a simulation tool based on total cost of ownership. This tool is designed to help housing associations identify and select demonstrator sites. This year we will focus on identifying eligible property stock among social housing stakeholders and the conditions under which they would engage in extensive Energiesprong refurbishments. This will lead to a collective charter of commitment that will highlight the potential for Energiesprong refurbishments and identify the barriers that will need to be overcome in order to realise them.” Energy plan: Tenant payments to be protected by an 'energy shield' “We are figuring out the energy plan. Who is going to pay for what and to whom? Our goal is to set an 'energy shield' so that tenants do not pay more than before the refurbishment. There is still no legal framework to make it easy and feasible for housing associations to ask for the fee that tenants need to pay to them instead of the energy provider after the refurbishment. The demonstrator projects will allow us to experiment with some schemes, and to see if we actually need to change the law or not.” Contracting: The energy performance warranty is new in France “Another challenge lies in the contracting” Sébastien Delpont continues. “Our main objective is to find a way to integrate the long term energy performance warranty into a procurement contract compliant with public purchasing rules ” Technical solutions: Identifying best practices and sharing knowledge “We are really eager to learn and share knowledge. Good solutions should be spread. In dedicated workshops, we share the problems we are facing and work on technical roadmaps. We do this in collaboration with a wide range of professionals, including learning from the experience of our Dutch peersin regular visits to the Netherlands.” Tenant engagement This is where Déborah Knight comes in. “My task is to help housing associations engage their tenants in the project. Relationships with tenants are key at every stage of an Energiesprong retrofit. We work together on helping them understand the project and its benefits… but above all, we involve them so they feel engaged and take an active role in the process. But it doesn´t stop here,” Déborah Knight continues. “We will also identify the issues requiring careduring renovations so that they run smoothly for tenants, and work on how to help them feel at ease in their renovated home and master their energy consumption patterns....” To share this knowledge, she organises workshops with housing associations in France and holds meetings with her Dutch colleagues. > Read the interview with Agnieszka Bogucka, project manager Vilogia (the first housing association that will realize 10 demonstrator houses in France.)

The Vilogia and ICF Habitat housing associations are the first in France to retrofit 10 demonstrator houses to Net Zero Energy (NZE). Before starting, Vilogia spent one year working with team members from both Energiesprong Netherlands and Energiesprong France – GreenFlex to retransmit and adapt the revolutionary Dutch retrofitting model to the French market. The first demonstrator houses will be realised in December 2017 in northern France. A year of learning and sharing knowledge “ The first year was all about learning and sharing knowledge”, says Agnieszka Bogucka, project manager at Vilogia. “We were comparing the situation between the Netherlands and France in regard to financial, legal and contextual matters so we could point out obstacles and opportunities. The Dutch contribution of experience and knowledge was very valuable. We met Dutch social housing companies and solution providers and exchanged a lot of ideas about communication. We learned a lot from the enormous work the Dutch Energiesprong has done in relation to Net Zero Energy make-overs.” "Today  the French team aims to continue its work and deliver 10 prime quality demonstrator houses. “We can do this due to the Interreg funds we have received”, says Agnieszka. “We want to show that what is done in the Netherlands is possible here too, in our French context. It will be a challenge, though. And at the same time, we will continue our feasibility study on legal aspects and work on how to deploy this solution on a larger market and larger housing stock.” Ten houses in a row The 10 selected houses are very similar to the Dutch houses that have already been retrofitted. They were constructed in the 1960s and built in a row. “We chose the same type of houses as the ones our Dutch partners worked on”, says Agnieszka. “They are very common here in the north of France. Because these French houses are very much like the houses in the Netherlands, it will be interesting to compare results with regard to the applicability of the industrial solutions, energy performance and the duration of the refurbishment.” “ We made several trips to Holland to get inspired by the huge amount of work that has already been done by Energiesprong!” continues Agnieszka. “And of course our aim – like the Dutch, I guess – is to deploy the French NZE solution to collective dwellings, which form the largest part of our housing stock.” The tender call is set! The call for tenders for the 10 houses was issued in October 2016. In the first phase, Vilogia pre-selected solution providers that have the capacity and knowledge to engage in such a project. The next step was to give them more specifications. As Agnieszka notes: “Our aim was to limit the complexity of the specifications as much as possible. So, we’ve set a clear goal: an NZE product that comes with a performance guarantee for 25 years, a construction solution that can be industrialised and limited construction time on the site. We want the solution provider to tell us how they will make this happen!” Vilogia will choose the solution provider in early 2017. “ In the first year, Energiesprong France – GreenFlex invited all possible parties to share information about this project”, says Agnieszka. “Most of the solution providers travelled to the Netherlands to see Dutch realisations, so we hope they know what we expect!” The tenants What do the tenants know about the plan? “Tenants are told there will be a retrofit, but they don’t know the details yet”, Agnieszka explains. “First we need to know what their problems are regarding the houses. They have told us, for instance, that it is cold inside due to poor insulation. So we explained we are looking into possibilities to fix this. Once we have chosen the solution provider to work with, we will organise a meeting and explain our exact plans to the tenants.” Keep it simple “ I really like the way the Dutch deal with their tenants”, says Agnieszka. “I like for instance that they help tenants to buy new pans that are suitable for the electric stove when they cut the gas system. Or, that tenants themselves can choose the colour of their new kitchen. Things like this make the tenants’ lives a bit easier during the refurbishment and they feel they are participating in the set-up of their own ‘new’ home. I also learned to keep it simple. Tenants are not interested in all the complicated technical details. You need to explain everything clearly and simply. In this way we create a relationship, and we build this project together. Our task is to inform them, so they can understand clearly what the project is all about.” Enthusiasm and scepticism Agnieszka is already very enthusiastic about the project. Is everybody that excited in France? “Some solution providers are really eager and motivated to participate, and Vilogia was also very excited from the beginning”, she says. “However, some people who came to meetings organised by Energiesprong France – GreenFlex, were still sceptical. They do not think the Net Zero retrofit can be done that fast in France. But it is a usual reaction: everything is new and different and this makes people afraid. That is why building those prototypes in France is so important. We need to show the example, we need to try and learn. And if we have to, we will bring the people who are sceptical to the Netherlands once more, so they can see with their own eyes that it works. We keep on talking about the project and we keep on motivating people!”

Something special is happening in Friesland. Friesian housing corporations and contractors are teaming up to deliver large scale Net Zero Energy (NZE) home renovations. Housing association Elkien has taken the initiative to bring three large contractors together to develop a sound, affordable Net Zero Energy concept. Killing two birds with one stone Housing association Elkien has taken the lead in initiating this productive cooperation for innovation. Managing director Alex Bonnema explains his vision of how it could all come together. “There is obviously a lot going on in the area of energy transition. We are aware that in 15 years the natural gas in the Netherlands will be gone and we are looking to move away form fossil fuels. Elkien's goal is to keep our rental properties affordable, and that means that rental and energy prices mustn't fluctuate. In addition to this we have an ageing population in Friesland. This trend looks set to continue, so we also want to address this challenge. Net Zero Energy provides us with an opportunity to address these issues in combination. With a sound and affordable concept, we can transition around 15,000 of our dwellings to Net Zero Energy without needing to raise housing costs (rent + energy costs). But Net Zero Energy also ensures that the housing costs remain stable into the future, and on the side we can simultaneously refit 80% of these homes with technology to meet simple aged care needs.” In for the long haul Bonnema acknowledges that this approach is not possible using short term solutions and is looking to establish long lasting collaborations, local to Friesland. “We aim to keep our housing costs under €620 per month for renters. Market providers will need to innovate to achieve this ( with Net Zero Energy for example) but in order to innovate they need a long term strategy. This will require a certain economy of scale and a combination of local talent. You have to be in for the long haul, otherwise you only get short term solutions that fall short. We're aiming, together with the contractors, for long term innovations.” Joining forces To develop the Net Zero Energy concept to its full potential will require cooperation, so Elkien has invited the three largest contractors in the area to share their knowledge; Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma, Van Wijnen and Jorritsma Bouw. “You have to build an alliance, otherwise everyone just looks out for themselves. These three parties each have their own strengths and the art is to combine them as effectively as possible.” Contractors offer a peek at their innovations One of the contractors embracing the project is Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma. “We want to make a difference across the board” explains Biense Dijkstra, director of Dijkstra Draisma. And that is exactly what they have done. Over a period of two months, all three businesses involved have met with each other at least once per week. They have further taken the exceptional step of letting each other in on their latest developments. That is new in the building world. “Yes, that was certainly exciting” says Dijkstra. “You actually exchange your latest innovations, and whilst this is unusual, we have all taken the plunge. Through this process it becomes clear where each other's strengths lie”. For example, Dijkstra Draisma has been innovative when it comes to facades and even uses robots to install stone veneer. Van Wijnen has already developed a core energy product with performance guarantees and Jorritsma has innovated most in the domain of logistics and feels right at home working in earthquake zones. Dijkstra is convinced that “by bringing these innovations together we can deliver the best and most affordable NZE product”. The Net Zero Energy concept that has arisen out of this collaboration is offered to Elkien with a guarantee that the price of the NZE renovations will drop still a further 20%! “Of course, the guarantee that the price will drop is fantastic” says Bonnema. Local government also comes to the table The housing corporations are offering an economy of scale and the contractors a top concept, but the collaboration doesn't stop there. Four local councils in the region where many of Elkien's properties are located have also joined the initiative; Leeuwarden City Council, and the councils of Súdwest Fryslân, Heerenveen and Smallingerland. “These four councils have a sustainable vision which they don't only want to talk about, but also to realise on the ground” explains Bonnema. “The Council of Súdwest Fryslân, for example, wants all rental properties in their area to be energy neutral by 2030 and will require all new buildings after 2020 to be energy neutral. That's bold!” Alliances of stakeholders, that is the future. In order to forge alliances of stakeholders like these in Friesland, there has been a deviation from traditional professional relationships. “In order to innovate, you need to leave the traditional client role behind. Rather than specifying complicated targets and objectives, you need to look towards the interests of all stakeholders. The long term objectives. These objectives need to align. Through mutual understandings you gain insights and come to the best solutions” says Bonnema. And Dijkstra sees a new role for the contractors: “Let's leave our fears behind us and change the term competitor into partner.” We are certainly going to hear more from Net Zero Energy in Friesland.

Energiesprong UK all started in 2016 with a meeting in Copenhagen between Arno Schmickler, project manager of Energiesprong UK, and Ron van Erck and Jasper van den Munckhof of the Dutch Energiesprong. Arno, who was working for the National Housing Federation in the UK at the time, became convinced of Energiesprong’s approach to performance-assured whole-house retrofits at scale. As soon as he returned to the UK, he started to convince others. A pivotal trip to the Netherlands At the housing conference in Copenhagen, the three men talked about Energiesprong in the Netherlands. “Ron, Jasper and I discussed if this approach could work in the UK as well”, Arno explains. “Of course our country is different, but I saw the opportunity to bring Energiesprong to the UK – although it’s a challenging one.” Sounding out housing providers, industry representatives and expert organisations, these parties were initially just curious but became increasingly excited. To transform this excitement into a commitment, Energiesprong UK organised a field trip to the Netherlands with a group of 30 representatives. Seeing the Net Zero Energy (NZE) houses that had already been built made a huge difference for them: “Now the group got really excited. During their two-day visit, they talked to housing associations, solution providers, the Dutch Energiesprong team and even tenants. During this trip the overall mood changed from ‘ we do it?’ to ‘ can we do it?’” When the group returned to the UK, their only question was: ‘Who wants to come on board?’ First project: Finding funds To get Energiesprong UK off the ground, the next step was to secure funding. Arno and his team managed to obtain funds from both Horizon2020 and Interreg. Arno notes: “Horizon2020 focuses on creating the right conditions for refurbishments to NZE with a project called Transition Zero, while Interreg focuses on getting the first refurbishments done – using the project name E=0. With funding from Horizon2020 preparing the initial market, the funding from Interreg will support early market demonstrator houses for Affinity Sutton and Moat Housing.” Nottingham City Homes, an arms’ length management organisation (ALMO) of Nottingham City Council, will be the first to market: “They already had secured some other European funds, which will make an Energiesprong makeover a reality in the UK.” Read more about this first UK project in the interview with Emily Braham , head of sustainable energy at Nottingham City Homes. Great challenges, but great commitment Arno explains the challenges being faced in the UK, which are different from those in the Netherlands and France: “First of all, in the UK we lack investment in the housing stock. The housing sector is under financial pressure, more so than in the Netherlands and France. Secondly, tenants have very low energy bills, because they are underheating their homes. The average bill is often below £50 a month, which is by far not sufficient to recover the investment over 30 years!” These are not the only challenges that Energiesprong UK is facing. “The political environment is very much focused on Brexit – and with the housing crisis the development of new homes at large quantities is at the forefront, thus pushing sustainability and energy saving projects very much into the background”, Arno continues. “Even so, our partners are still very committed as they see the opportunity to be the makers of their own destiny by focusing on a commercial model to improve their stock conditions significantly. They are determined to make performance-assured whole-house retrofits a reality in the UK and combine the ambition for warm and affordable homes with an investment strategy that will make their housing fit for 2050. Industry comes to the table as they see the opportunity to tap into a new market that they are co-creating with housing providers.” Next step: Volume The next major step towards NZE homes is to increase production volume, which Energiesprong UK will try by negotiating a collaborative commitment between housing providers and the industry. “We need to secure the timeline in which we can learn from the demonstrator houses and replicate them on a large scale. This learning curve will enable industry to reduce cost, which in turn enables housing providers to come to larger volumes. In parallel, we will work to improve the market conditions in the UK so that the financial business case is consolidated”, explains Arno. “The principle follows the Dutch volume deal . The early market demonstrator houses in the UK will be pivotal to raise confidence for a larger volume commitment.” The Energiesprong game To lead housing providers and industry towards securing a volume deal, it is important to understand the business pressures and opportunities. Arno is positive that this can be done: “You have to be creative and think outside the box. For example, Energiesprong UK recently organised a workshop in the form of an Energiesprong game. Representatives of the housing providers as well as the industry partners played a game that was set up around collaborative commitment. Because of the game element, people were encouraged to actually talk about numbers, price points and commitment on the number of properties. They were just one step outside of reality, which made them play and discuss more openly. The game involved ‘condition cards’ and ‘event cards’ which replicated the current and future envisaged market conditions. This helped to clarify where the focus needs to be and in what way we need to put more effort into changing the market to realise commitment for bigger volume.” “In the end I think the demonstrator houses will be very helpful,” Arno concludes, “since people can actually come and visit them and see with their own eyes that it works!”

In 2017 local governments in the province of South Holland are providing funding for 15 homeowner associations to refurbish their apartment buildings to Net Zero Energy. This funding is available to associations consisting of 25 dwellings or more and will be used to provide comprehensive advice and support for transitioning their homes. These 15 projects will also serve as a learning platform, as participants share their experiences and create a knowledge base for future refurbishments. Help is needed Twenty five percent of the private housing stock in the Netherlands is organised into homeowner associations, and these associations often cover more than 25 dwellings. Until now, deep refurbishments like Net Zero Energy (NZE) makeovers have not been an easy choice. A lot of willing homeowners get lost in the myriad of decisions they need to make. Dutch local governments, Stroomversnelling and de MRDH (metropolis region of Rotterdam and Den Hague) have joined forces (with the help of Interreg funding) to stimulate and help homeowner organisations make this transition. Providing good advice and coaching Interreg are providing around 40% of the funding of this initiative, with local government contributing the other 60%.. This funding will provide support for 15 homeowners associations to develop and realise their plans to refurbish their homes to Net Zero Energy. A coach and adviser will help homeowners choose the right concept to ensure that their wishes are translated into sound practices and guaranteed energy performances they will then receive further assistance to help them engage the right contractors for the job. After a NZE makeover the homeowners will have a comfortable modern house, largely financed by savings on their energy bill. The house will now supply enough energy for heating, hot water and household appliances. How and when In December 2016 funding for this project was announced and the call is now open for homeowner associations with zero energy ambitions until the end of 2018. To find the right associations, meetings will be organised in the first semester of 2017 with local governments and the first enthusiastic homeowner associations. Once a homeowner association has submitted a plan for a deep refurbishment, it will first be checked to ensure that it is feasible. Then, when a plan gets approved, homeowner associations will receive further support in choosing the right solution partner for their retrofit. There will be an ongoing effort to recruit homeowners associations until the maximum of 15 is achieved. Overall there will be a lot to be learned from the 15 homeowner associations who refurbish to Net Zero Energy. Part of the process will involve sharing knowledge to help future homeowners associations wishing to refurbish to Net Zero Energy.