Yesterday, Queen Máxima visited two leading pioneers in biobased construction in Brabant. The working visit, organised by Building Balance, focused on scaling up the use of natural materials such as hemp, flax, straw, and miscanthus in the construction industry. These renewable bio-based resources offer a solution to the nitrogen and CO2 challenges. By combining fiber cultivation with livestock farming or replacing intensive crops, nitrogen emissions are directly reduced. Using wood and biobased insulation materials in construction results in significant CO2 savings and supports circular goals, creating space within permitting processes and accelerating housing development. Building Balance, a key partner in the Interreg NWE project Circular Reno, plays an important role in promoting the circular economy in the construction industry and advancing sustainable practices in building renovation. From Straw to Roof The visit began with a renovation project by housing corporation Area in Uden, carried out by Caspar de Haan. During the site tour, biobased insulation material—loose straw, a natural byproduct from agriculture—was blown into the roof live. The demonstration was provided by Takkenkamp Vastgoed Verduurzamers From Factory to Future Next, Queen Máxima visited Barli’s housing factory, where more than a thousand modular wooden homes are produced annually. An increasing number of these homes now feature biobased materials, including natural insulation made from wood fibers. Straw is also emerging as a promising insulation material for prefab housing. During the tour, discussions were held on the contribution of factory-built housing to sustainable, large-scale construction. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion where farmers, builders, housing corporations, and policymakers spoke about the scaling up of biobased supply chains. Queen Máxima actively participated, listening to the experiences of the involved parties. “I felt a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and heard a lot of ambition today. There are still a few hurdles to overcome, but we are eager to take up that challenge,” said Jan Willem van de Groep from Building Balance. Both housing corporation Area and builder Barli are actively involved in developing regional supply chains for biobased construction. Barli’s Commitment to Biobased Insulation At the closing reception, Building Balance and Barli signed a commitment to rapidly scale the use of biobased insulation materials in Barli homes. Barli aims to incorporate 5% biobased insulation in their homes by 2025, with a target of reaching 100% by 2029. Barli is committed to using locally grown biobased materials and has agreed to price developments that will keep costs for biobased materials no more than 8% higher than traditional materials in 2025, with a goal of matching traditional insulation costs by 2029. Additionally, Barli, in collaboration with Building Balance, is exploring opportunities for investments in local processing industries in 2025.

International collaboration is only possible when the people who work together know  how  to work together. In October, the Energiesprong network dinner was organised for this very reason - an exclusive dinner with over 100 partners attending. A family dinner so to speak, where partners could enjoy good food and meet many of the Energiesprong international market development teams (MDTs) and our closest German partners. A network dinner with fine cuisine, great music, interesting conversations and an inspirational mindset to take home. Can we invite you into our family?

More than 300 frontrunners, changemakers and newcomers to serial retrofits met on 19 th October for the Energiesprong Convention 2023 in Berlin. The focus of the industry event was on lessons learned and innovative solutions that make climate-neutral retrofitting existing buildings faster, easier, more cost-effective and tenant-friendly. Photocredits: photothek, Felix Zahn Currently, 10,000 residential units in Germany are being serially retrofitted. In order to achieve the climate goals by 2045, around 30 million residential units will have to be modernised in terms of energy efficiency over the next 22 years. According to expert estimates, around 30% of all existing buildings are, in principle, suitable for serial retrofitting. The opportunities offered by the innovative restructuring approach are just as great as the challenges. Serial retrofitting as a key technology in the heating transition In her welcoming speech, Kristina Haverkamp ,  ​​Managing Director of the German Energy Agency GmbH (dena) , expressed how impressed she was by the rapidly increasing number of projects and the constantly growing network: “The fact that we can welcome three times more participants here today than last year shows the  spirit of optimism and dynamism of the serial retrofit market. In order to advance the transformation into having a climate-neutral building stock and winning the battle against time, we need your courage, your innovative solutions and your expertise. At dena, we are here to support you with all your challenges with our dedicated market development team.” Kristina Haverkamp,  ​​Managing Director of the German Energy Agency GmbH (dena) | Image: photothek, Felix Zahn Dr. Volker Hoppenbrock  , Head of department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), highlighted the innovation potential of serial retrofit solutions in his keynote speech: “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Within just a few years, an unconventional idea has developed into a high-growth market segment that opens up attractive business opportunities for all players along the entire value chain. And it is an innovative approach that inspires builders and residents alike. With this tailwind, serial retrofits can become a key technology for the heating transition in existing buildings.” From a cooperative innovation culture towards common standards After a successful pilot phase in the multi-family housing sector, the knowledge gathered in this sector is now being transferred to entire portfolios of housing stock: higher-story buildings, single and two-family houses and non-residential buildings. The expansion to other building types is reflected in the rapidly increasing numbers: 49 projects have been completed (2022: 4), 25 are under construction (2022: 9), and a further 146 are in various phases of planning and preparation (2022: 51). This dynamic development is mainly due to the frontrunners in the industry, those who were not satisfied with the status quo and who had the courage to do things differently. The entire industry benefits from your experiences, insights and, sometimes, disillusionment. A wealth of experience is now available from the projects implemented so far, which shows what has proven to be successful and where there is still potential for improvement. The lessons learned form the basis for developing common processes and quality standards. Uwe Bigalke, Head of the market development team for serial restructuring at dena | Image: photothek, Felix Zahn  “Serial retrofitting not only changes the planning and construction process, but also the way we work together. Cooperation, collaboration and communication are the drivers of this transformation. What is needed is more transparency and less competition. In order for the entire industry to learn from the experiences of the pilot projects, new forms of collaborative planning and construction must be established - between disciplines and also between companies that compete with one another. The task is so big that it requires the experience and knowledge of all those involved,” said  Uwe Bigalke  , Head of  dena’s market development team for serial restructuring  .  Lessons learned as a guide on the path to innovation and scaling up Dirk Förster-Wehle, from TAG Immobilien AG, underlined the importance of district development in advance of serial retrofit projects: “As you can only spend each individual Euro once, it should be invested where it achieves the maximum CO 2 saving.” As a central tool, portfolio analysis makes it easier for neighbourhoods to develop tailored decarbonisation strategies. Clustering buildings together is the basis for achieving scalable retrofit concepts that lead to time, resource and cost savings in the long term. Tim Lodes, from GEWOBAU Erlangen, presented the  largest German Energiesprong project  to date. The municipal housing company wants to serially retrofit around 6,000 residential units by 2027. In order to put as little strain on the tenants as possible, the building technology is installed in ground cubes. The individual apartments are connected via backpackers integrated into the façade. “We are now creating 120 m 2  of façade area per day, so that the on-site construction work per building won’t take longer than two weeks,” says Lodes. In addition, the buildings will be expanded with 135 additional apartments. Mathias Ponitka from  LEG  and Andreas Kipp from  Renowate  explained how long-term collaborations create stable demand and thus enable steps along the scaling up path to be taken faster. As a joint venture between LEG and Rhomberg Bau, Renowate has extensive knowledge and expertise in the housing and construction industry. As part of 14 pilot projects, the aim is to jointly develop a cost and time-saving serial retrofit concept that is suitable for the broader market. Tenant communication: a decisive factor Thomas Meißner, Board Member of WGaV Image: photothek, Felix Zahn Thomas Meißner, Board Member of WGaV, has set energy standards with his serial  retrofit project in Cologne-Zollstock  . The building achieves 40 EE standard and generates 20% more solar power than the residents need. For him, two things are crucial to the success of serial retrofit projects: good planning and transparent communication between all those involved in the project. “Above all, keep in touch with the tenants, listen carefully and offer a treat every now and then,” advises Meißner. This is an assessment shared by Samuel Paulsen from Vonovia. He is currently overseeing a serial retrofit project in  Witten  . The tenants were initially sceptical about the retrofit. There were lots of doubts as to whether the modernisation levy would really be offset by the heating cost savings. “After a joint information event with the construction company GAP Solutions, where the concept and technical solution were explained in detail, we had the residents on our side,” reports Paulsen. The innovative solar honeycomb façade is a real eye-catcher and significantly enhances the area. Energiesprong + ESC – a promising approach for municipal housing stock Schools, which make up around half of all municipal buildings, are in a particularly poor energy condition. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, the heating energy requirement of an average school is 211 kWh/m 2  a, a value that falls into the second worst energy efficiency class. Susanne Elsen, from the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district office, gave a presentation on her experiences with serial school retrofits. With a serial retrofit concept consisting of prefabricated façade elements in wooden panel construction, decentralised ventilation devices and geothermal probes, the energy consumption of the Marienfelder elementary school, built in 1971, fell by more than 80%. Serial retrofitting was considered further in five exciting workshops. | Image: photothek, Felix Zahn Serial retrofitting was given further thought in five exciting workshops. The non-residential buildings workshop addressed, among other things, the question of how energy modernisation can be achieved despite the current situation of strained budgets. Around 85% of the 175,000 municipal buildings are in poor energy condition. The costs are correspondingly high: the 12,000 German municipalities spend almost 4 billion Euros per year on the heat and electricity supply to their properties. Serial retrofitting, in combination with energy-saving contracting, could be a promising way to make municipal assets fit for a climate-neutral future. With  energy-saving contracting,  a service provider takes over the financing, planning and implementation of the energy efficiency measures. The investment is refinanced through energy savings. In this way, even municipalities with little financial flexibility can increase the retrofit rate of their properties.  Image: photothek, Felix Zahn

To meet the UK’s net-zero targets, we can’t just retrofit homes - we need to reimagine how retrofit is done. That’s why the Transform-ER (Transform. Engage. Retrofit) project is disrupting the status quo to transform retrofit from a fragmented 'cottage industry' into something genuinely scalable, structured, and repeatable. Funded by Innovate UK and led by Energiesprong UK, Transform-ER is a game-changing project that brings together 13 partners with one shared mission: to create a cohesive, industrialised sector that delivers high-performance, cost-effective solutions through a standardised process - and enable one million home energy upgrades every year by 2030. Now, one year since the start of the project, a new video showcases the progress that’s been made to reach these ambitions. Watch the video to find out how the project partners are: Developing a new data-led pipeline platform that matches homes with the right retrofit solution – providing landlords with recommendations like you’d get with Netflix or Amazon Prime! Nurturing innovative, industrialised products to support the move towards a manufacturing-led retrofit approach. Launching a purpose-driven delivery vehicle that uses alliancing to drive down risk, drive up certainty, reduce cost and create smoother project delivery. Unlocking finance by building business cases that align diverse stakeholders' needs and financially incentivise all parties. Radically rethinking resident engagement, helping people feel retrofit is being done with them – not *to* them. Bringing together industry lessons into a Rulebook to help drive the retrofit revolution.  The next stage of the project will focus on delivering retrofit at scale through a new Community Interest Company (CIC). If you're a UK landlord interested in finding out more about a new way of delivering retrofit schemes, register your interest via this link . Find out more about the Transform-ER project at: https://www.energiesprong.uk/transform-er-transform-engage-retrofit

The transition towards sustainable construction practices is an essential step in addressing the global climate crisis. Wallonia, the Belgian region, is spearheading this movement through the Energiesprong Circular Reno programme, which aims to promote energy-efficient retrofits using locally produced biobased and circular building products.  Despite some scepticism regarding the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of local biobased value chains, recent research by Eco Cluster-construction, a partner in the Circular Reno initiative, highlights a positive outlook for the deployment of biobased insulation in Wallonia. The Need for Biobased Insulation In line with international climate targets, Wallonia aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. A key component of this strategy is the energy-efficient retrofitting of residential buildings. According to the Walloon long-term energy retrofit strategy, 66% of walls and 48% of roofs in residential buildings in Wallonia do not meet the region’s insulation standards. This significant retrofit need presents a prime opportunity for biobased insulation products. “Locally produced biobased materials are key to Wallonia’s 2050 greenhouse gas reduction goals.” Quantifying the Need To achieve the region’s ambitious targets, extensive retrofits are necessary. Based on detailed analyses and assumptions derived from Statbel statistics, socio-economic surveys, and long-term energy strategies, Wallonia will need to insulate approximately 5,890,000 square metres of wall surface annually up until 2050. This translates into nearly 1.5 million cubic metres of biobased insulation per year. The primary biobased materials being considered include cellulose wadding, grass, lime-hemp mix, and sheep’s wool. “Wallonia needs 1.5 million cubic metres of biobased insulation annually.” Production Capacity and Potential The current production levels of biobased insulation in Wallonia are promising. As of 2023, local producers can supply 615,000 cubic metres of insulation, covering 42% of the annual retrofit needs. These companies have the capacity to increase production to meet over 85% of the demand. Additionally, Wallonia produces more than 1 million cubic metres of structural timber annually, a portion of which can be redirected from exports to meet local construction needs without adversely affecting the timber industry. “Local producers can meet over 85% of insulation demand with biobased materials.” Benefits of Biobased Insulation Biobased insulation offers numerous benefits beyond energy efficiency. These materials are known for their ability to regulate humidity, low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and an absence of plasticizers and solvents, contributing to healthier indoor environments. As we spend a significant amount of time indoors, improving indoor air quality is crucial for the well-being of occupants. Addressing Challenges Despite the clear advantages, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of biobased insulation: Resistance to Change: There is a notable resistance to change among stakeholders, including architects and construction companies, who may lack knowledge about biobased materials. Education and demonstration projects are essential to overcoming this barrier. Cost Concerns: Biobased insulation is often perceived as more expensive due to current production scales. However, increased production and governmental incentives can help reduce costs. Urban Planning Regulations: The additional thickness of external insulation can conflict with urban planning standards. Adaptations to regulations are necessary to accommodate the use of biobased materials. “Educational initiatives and incentives can boost biobased material adoption.” Encouraging Adoption To foster the adoption of biobased insulation, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes: Educational Initiatives: Increasing awareness and knowledge among architects, builders, and the general public about the benefits and implementation of biobased materials. Government Incentives: Increasing financial support for retrofits using biobased materials, such as the Walloon Region’s plan to increase premiums for eco-materials. Regulatory Adaptations: Modifying urban planning regulations to allow for the additional thickness of biobased insulation materials. Conclusion The research by Eco Cluster-construction underscores the feasibility and benefits of using biobased insulation for energy-efficient retrofits in Wallonia. With adequate support and adaptation, biobased materials can play a pivotal role in achieving the region’s climate targets. The positive business case for local biobased value chains not only promotes environmental sustainability, but also boosts local economies by reducing reliance on imported materials and supporting local industries. Cluster Eco Construction, in collaboration with Valbiom and Filière Bois Wallonie, has produced comprehensive research detailing the opportunities for biobased insulation in Wallonia. Read the full research paper here. Wallonia stands as a model for other regions in Northwest Europe, demonstrating that with the right strategies, biobased insulation can significantly contribute to sustainable construction practices and help combat climate change. “Biobased insulation supports Wallonia’s climate targets and boosts local economies.” Energiesprong & Circular Reno Energiesprong is a revolutionary approach to sustainable building retrofits, aiming to create net-zero energy homes. The Circular Reno project, which forms part of this initiative, focuses on using biobased and circular materials for retrofits, enhancing environmental and economic benefits. Supported by the Interreg NWE programme, which fosters transnational cooperation to address regional challenges, Circular Reno exemplifies innovation in sustainable construction. Cluster Eco Construction, a valued partner in the Circular Reno programme, has significantly contributed with their research and efforts to analyse and boost the market. This collaboration highlights the potential for large-scale, eco-friendly retrofits, setting a precedent for future projects across Europe.

The 2022 Energy Transition & Housing Construction Monitor from Stroomversnelling presents a mixed picture for the Netherlands. On the one hand, there appears to be a decrease in the use of the energy performance fee (EPV) in retrofitting, after years of increased use. On the other hand, respondents to the questionnaire reported that they are increasingly switching from project-based to programmatic working in retrofitting as well. The latter is an important precondition for scaling up and achieving the goals for 2030 and 2050. Every year Stroomversnelling gauges the market for energy-efficient retrofits and new construction. Whereas in previous editions of the market monitor the emphasis was on the number of completed Net Zero Energy homes (known as “NOM” in Dutch), the focus has now shifted to more substantive themes related to planning and implementing the energy transition. For the 2022 Energy Transition & Housing Construction Monitor, housing associations and builders in the Stroomversnelling network were approached, including both members and non-members. This means that the respondents were often part of the leading group in terms of sustainability. Therefore, the results are not representative of the entire housing association and construction sector. However, the monitor does give an indication of the direction the leading group is moving in. A total of 10 housing corporations and 11 construction bodies completed the questionnaire. In addition, three interviews were conducted based on the results of the survey. The main insights are as follows: The most common strategy from now until 2030 is to gradually retrofit homes, with a focus on reducing the demand for heat. Installations will be addressed later. As a result of the performance agreements between the State, Aedes (Association of housing organisations) and the Woonbond from 2022, the emphasis is now on an accelerated phasing out of the E, F and G labels in housing association properties. Retrofitting homes without natural gas and ensuring that homes comply with the Standard is a lower priority. Setting up long-term retrofit programmes with permanent partners will become a more important part of the strategy. While half of the corporations indicated in the 2021 market monitor that they did not intend to implement a retrofit programme, in 2022 everyone indicated that they had either set up, requested or prepared such a programme. All respondents indicated that, technically, there is sufficient suitable supply but that, from an economic point of view, 60% indicate that it is not affordable. This is the biggest hurdle standing in the way of scaling up. With regard to industrially produced components, coalition formation is emerging, both between supply and demand and between suppliers themselves. All respondents are in the process of setting up an industrial chain with permanent partners or have already implemented this. Based on the responses received, use of the energy performance fee (EPV) for retrofit appears to have decreased in 2022, after several years of increased use. This legitimises the introduction of the new EPV 2.0 legislation. Reflection on the results The Director of Stroomversnelling, Ivo Opstelten, responded to the results: “I think the results from this monitor show a mixed picture. On the one hand, it is good to see that respondents are increasingly making the switch from project-based working to programmatic working in retrofitting as well. It is also good that EPV-worthy new construction is increasingly seen as the standard. On the other hand, it is worrying that the number of renovations at EPV-worthy level has decreased. Based on the many contacts we have had with our supporters in recent years in part, the main 3 reasons for this seem to be: the organisational challenge for corporations, price development of supply, and government policy development.” “In order to still achieve the goals for 2030 and 2050, a significant upscaling in numbers and ambition is required, but above all a shift from a project-based approach to a programmatic approach is vital. An approach in which all available instruments are used to the full, obstacles from national and/or local policy are removed, and strategic partnerships between supply and demand and within the supply chain with industrial production partners are set up and supported with their new challenges… this is the task that Stroomversnelling, together with its members and partners, is facing.” Click here to download the Monitor (in Dutch)

In Uden, Brabant, in the Netherlands, the first housing corporation homes have been insulated using straw from the Telers Coöperatie Agrarische Bouwmaterialen (TCAB). Straw from this region is an effective and #sustainable insulation material, meaning that tenants in the Brabant housing corporations not only save energy, but also contribute to a greener future! First Farmers’ Cooperative in the Netherlands In South and Northeast Brabant, the first farmers’ cooperative for fiber crops in the Netherlands has been established. With the support of Rabobank, around 18 farmers in the region have joined forces under the Growers’ Cooperative for Agricultural Building Materials (TCAB), and this number is expected to grow. It marks an important step towards an independent supply chain “from soil to structure,” ensuring proper organization and influence from the farmers. “All questions about fiber crops in Brabant now go directly to the growers’ cooperative,” says Harold van de Ven, Chain Manager of Building Balance in North Brabant. “The cooperative also ensures the right conditions, such as quality standards and agreements with processors.” A Successful Biobased Supply Chain A growers’ cooperative is essential for effectively organizing the production and supply of fiber crops. “But it only makes sense within a successful biobased supply chain with sufficient demand,” Harold explains. “Brabant is leading the way in this regard. Since 2022, farmers, builders, and housing corporations have been in dialogue here. In 2023, 13 housing corporations in Southeast Brabant signed the Natural Together Builds South-East Brabant commitment declaration to achieve 100% biobased insulation within five years. Similar agreements have also been made in Mid-Brabant and West Brabant.” Such commitments are promising, but all parties needed to act on them. And they did! By mid-2024, 31 out of 33 Brabant housing corporations have plans to insulate using plant-based materials like hemp and grain straw. Meanwhile, Brabant farmers are now cultivating over 160 hectares of fiber crops, which are processed into building materials that regional builders use in housing corporation projects. Healthier Building with Less CO2 Emissions One of these housing corporations is Area, which insulated its first homes with shredded straw from TCAB in May. “We want to build healthier and reduce our carbon footprint,” explains Dirk van den Tillaar, sustainability and circularity advisor at Area. “With biobased building materials, you store CO2 instead of emitting it. An additional benefit is the short supply chain from soil to structure that we have here in Brabant. It saves on transport costs and guarantees a responsible product origin. In fact, I can point to the exact field where it came from.” Not a Pilot, But Long-Term Agreements After insulating homes in Uden, the “Brabant straw caravan” will move on to properties managed by fellow corporation Compaen. “This isn’t a pilot project but a forerunner initiative,” Dirk clarifies. “After this first effort, we will continue with corporation homes across Brabant. Staying in the pilot phase doesn’t offer perspective to anyone in the chain, including your own organization. It only works when you make long-term agreements that everyone can literally build on. That’s easier when you know and trust your chain partners.” John Verberne, contractor, farmer, and TCAB board member, is also optimistic about the future: “Nearly all housing corporations in Brabant have now signed the agreement, so demand for biobased building materials is really gaining momentum.” Optimally Organising the Cultivation and Supply of Fiber Crops “Through the growers’ cooperative, we have a single point of contact in the market,” John continues. “We can efficiently distribute the crops and set price agreements. Last year, we had several different crops. We processed them, and we also handled storage and transport. This way, we deliver products of consistent quality and in the right quantities to our customers. We hope more growers’ cooperatives will emerge across the Netherlands in the future. They could also collaborate if needed, ensuring the cultivation and supply of fiber crops are optimally coordinated and organized nationwide.” Source: https://buildingbalance.eu/actueel/eerste-woningen-geisoleerd-met-stro-van-de-telers-cooperatie-agrarische-bouwmaterialen/

Spring is in full swing, and so is the Energiesprong movement. The latest newsletter has lots to tell. From royal visits and playful video games to bold new tools and big breakthroughs. There’s no shortage of momentum in the world of sustainable construction. Curious what Queen Máxima did on a rooftop filled with straw? Wondering how the UK plans to retrofit one million homes a year—or how Germany got serial renovation to take off? Read the newsletter here and discover how pioneers across Europe are scaling up retrofit innovation. Team Energiesprong Global Alliance

It’s one of the most important steps to take: setting up regionalised, cost-efficient value chains for biobased building materials. This step brings us closer to a more circular place-based economy for the building components used in deep energy retrofits. It’s the basis of our international project Circular Reno, but how exactly do we set up these value chains? Keep reading to find out! Transnational shared insights  KORE Retrofit, one of the partners in the Circular Reno project, is in the early stages of establishing value chains in Ireland. They have invited co-partner Building Balance to speak at a series of online seminars. Building Balance is a non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the scaling-up of biobased materials in the Dutch building sector. As part of a stakeholder engagement and information strategy, KORE Retrofit has hosted a series of online seminars to introduce the concept of agri-crop biobased construction solutions to a stakeholder network in Ireland and to recruit key agencies and promoters into supply chain development working groups. During the first seminar, Mark Kok from Building Balance outlined the five-step process required to create a value chain: Determine primary and secondary stakeholders Organise several value chain meetings for the purpose of steps 3-5:2.1. getting to know each other2.2. get to know which region, which crops and therefore which type of value chains are possible 2.3 get commitment from housing associations about using bio-based materials  Determine the value chain: what are you going to focus on based on the soil type Sign a multi-year agreement with housing associations Learn to walk together The third seminar shone a spotlight on social housing as a key driver and demand creator for biobased construction. Social housing providers and local authorities in Ireland were invited to explore inspiring examples from the Netherlands, where social housing projects are sparking the growth of biobased supply chains. Rob Bogaarts from Building Balance was invited to share his hands-on experience in creating a value chain for blow-in straw in the south of the Netherlands, working closely with social housing associations. In this seminar, he highlighted the crucial role of clear communication between farmers, builders and social housing organisations. Rob touched on the key ingredients for success: organising responsibilities for stocking materials, managing ownership of processing machines, and establishing contracts between all parties involved.  These seminars aim to empower Ireland's social housing sector to take a leading role in decarbonising housing. By championing low-carbon and carbon-negative materials, the sector can drive forward innovation in biobased construction. The focus is on transforming both retrofits and new builds through creative procurement solutions that prioritise sustainability.   What’s next? Now that all three seminars have concluded, KORE Retrofit is planning a seminar focused on supply/value chain development, followed by a kickoff workshop for the emerging supply chain development groups. The event is scheduled for 25th September, with Mark Kok from Building Balance sharing key insights from their experience at both the seminar and workshop. This event leads into the Circular Reno partner days, hosted by the Irish team on 26th and 27th September. Throughout these days, all partners will visit the pilot site and collaborate on transnational cooperation and project development. Benefits for other countries Ireland is taking its first steps toward establishing cost-efficient value chains for biobased construction. The Building Balance approach, already successful in the Netherlands, holds great potential for other countries as well. KORE Retrofit has been leading the way with extensive research into biobased construction using agri-crops like straw, miscanthus, and hemp. Their work has culminated in a comprehensive "state of play" report on the Agri Crops to Biobased Construction sector in Europe. This research has also led to the publication of two journal papers, offering valuable insights and resources for all project partners and interested parties: Biobased Construction from Agricultural Crops: Paper 1 - A State of Play of Commercial Solutions in Europe | International Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology (avantipublishers.com) Biobased Construction from Agricultural Crops: Paper 2 - Supply Chain Dynamics of European Case Studies | International Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology (avantipublishers.com) About Kore Retrofit KORE Retrofit is a one-stop shop for domestic, commercial and community-based energy upgrades and project management services. It’s KORE Retrofit’s mission to make energy efficiency upgrades accessible to all, managing the works from the start through to completion. In partnership with Tuath Housing Association, they are leading the Irish project within Circular Reno and are seeking to develop an action plan for the sector, demonstration of bio-based materials, modular construction systems and possible supply chain development.   About Building Balance Building Balance initiates, stimulates, and supports regionalised cost-efficient value chains by creating demand, supporting the supply chain and helping with scaling up and certification in the Netherlands.  They also work to create favourable market conditions by addressing regulations and supporting entrepreneurs. Their success is measured by the increased use of bio-based materials, benefiting the environment through CO2 sequestration, reduced nitrogen issues, and enhanced biodiversity, soil, and water quality.

The Energiesprong Global Alliance is launching a new project with our European partners: Street HP Reno. The project aims to make heat pumps cheaper for private individuals by purchasing them jointly and facilitating the purchasing process. The reason to focus on heat pumps instead of fuel boilers and electric radiators is because of the problems the latter two bring on the long term. The switch to heat pumps is an important step in the energy transition and in achieving the Paris climate goals. The project involves collaborating with municipalities which support private individuals in their local areas to adopt this collective approach. The project will run from 2023 to 2026 and will be tested in France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands. In residential buildings in the EU, heat used for heating and water production still represents 80% of energy consumption. Most of the energy used is still fossil-based: 35% gas, 12% fuel oil, 3% coal and 43% electricity, which is on average 37% fossil based (coal and gas). To achieve the climate goals, this must change drastically. Switching from gas or fuel boilers or electric radiators to heat pumps is an important step in the process. Creating benefits through collaboration To make it attractive for private individuals to switch to a heat pump, purchasing a heat pump must be made easier, and the price of a heat pump must come down. This project collaborates with municipalities to find homeowners who want to jointly switch to a heat pump. In addition, we are working with heat pump suppliers to develop a more attractive product that is easier to purchase and that combines other technological advantages. A energy module where multiple energy systems are included and installed in one go. This complete module will decrease costs and ensure the delivery. To realise this the heat pump suppliers and installers get trained. Feedback and testing phase Through presentations, training sessions and demonstrations, feedback from the homeowners involved in the project will be actively sought. The feedback will be gathered when the first heat pump is jointly purchased, which will take place in France. If this approach is successful, it will be rolled out to the other participating European countries. This project will be implemented with partners in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Italy. It will run from 2023 to 2026.

The Energiesprong Global Alliance is launching a new project with our European partners: Cosme Reno. The project goal is to develop net zero retrofits for housing organisations while empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to deliver those. By working and investing together, smaller construction companies can compete with existing frontrunners. They will be key to reach our fit for 55 target in the building industry. This project will run from 2023 to 2026, and the concept will be tested in France. “The green deal is a collective challenge, and buildings account for 40% of our CO2 emissions in Europe. Cooperation and agility will be key to solving climate change and fuel poverty. SMEs are naturally agile and team players. This is only natural that Cosme Reno investigates how can SMEs contribute faster to the deep retrofit of our building stock” - Thibault Perraillon, Energiesprong France team manager Due to an aging population and poor working conditions in the construction sector, there is a risk of a shortage of workers and skills in the coming years. To limit this risk as much as possible, especially at a time where we need to scale the retrofit market, small and medium-sized construction companies must play a greater role in renovating existing homes to net zero standards. Until recently, those net-zero retrofit where mostly done by larger construction companies, that had the R&D investment capability to undertake these types of projects. SMEs currently account for 90% of the market players in the construction sector. This new working method could lead to more than 160,000 new jobs in the energy and heating sector. Through this project, the EU is supporting the energy transition in the construction sector by reducing the use of fossil fuels in existing homes. Collaboration and co-funding To be able to offer complete net zero retrofits, cooperation between SMEs is necessary. In addition, there is a perception that investing in small and medium-sized companies is risky. Cosme Reno aims to address these obstacles by developing collaboration tools and creating shared investment and partnership opportunities. The use of prefabricated elements can help to guarantee that a retrofit will be successfully implemented, which then reduces the risk for investors. Prefab labs for developing net zero solutions SMEs can come together in ‘prefab labs’ to develop prefabricated façade elements or smart heating solutions. They can use advanced technologies from their direct colleagues. Together the components should lead to a total net zero retrofit solution. The prefab labs are supported by municipalities and public co-investors. During this project, we will investigate what exactly SMEs need. The results will be turned into blueprints which will be made publicly available. The first blueprint will be tested in France and, if successful, implemented in the other participating European countries. This project is being carried out with partners in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Lithuania and will run from 2023 to 2026. All information related to the project will remain online for at least two years after the end of the project.

It has been some time since we saw each other in person. So, to start the new year in the best way possible, we would love to invite you to the Partner Days on the 25 th  and 26 th  of January. This time, we will meet each other in France! We have a really exciting programme planned for you. With a good mix of time scheduled for working on the project and a diverse range of projects we plan to visit, it’s going to be an interesting few days. You will find the full programme below. Read more about the programme here! Team Energiesprong Global Alliance