After a successful start bringing the Dutch Energiesprong approach for affordable, desirable, long-term performance guaranteed net zero energy (NZE) retrofits to Europe for single family homes (E=0), the coming three years will see Energiesprong develop a market for apartment buildings in North West Europe under a new project: Mustbe0, funded by Interreg NWE. The UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands will join forces to create a viable path to scale.
The UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands alone have 43 million apartments that are not future proof because there is no compelling deep energy retrofit solution for these buildings available yet. This is key for all countries to achieve the EU’s CO2 target. Under the Mustbe0 project, market development teams in the four participating countries the coming 3,5 years will work on solutions by developing a market for net zero energy retrofits that fit apartment buildings in North West Europe. This is a giant leap in the approach and thinking around the challenge of energy transition.
Creating a viable market path
Already 9 housing providers have committed to collaborating on the retrofit of at least 9 demonstrator buildings (415 apartments) in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands within the Mustbe0 programme. This will launch the market. Off-site manufacturing of the retrofit packages (mass customised facades and roofs with fully integrated energy and climate systems) enables the driving down of costs and installation times to reduce from several months to a few weeks.
We have already seen a reduction in price since Energiesprong started in the Netherlands and later was introduced in France and the UK. Solution providers such as the Dutch Factory Zero and Melius Homes in the UK dedicate their business completely to develop net zero energy retrofits and products. The French SME Operene, together with 6 other SME´s started the programme ES’OPE, inspired by Energiesprong. The aim of ES’OPE is to develop a catalogue of solutions for net zero energy retrofits. By kick starting a market for apartments as well, the market will only be more competitive which will drive quality up and costs down even further.
Aggregating additional demand, improving regulation, and financing structurally creates more market volume and drives the supply chain to industrially produce cheaper and better retrofits which kick-starts a self-sustaining market.
What is net zero energy?
The Energiesprong net zero energy standard provides modern and comfortable homes that people love to live in. Each home produces enough energy for its heating, hot water and appliances. Money that would have been spent on energy bills and maintenance funds the improvement. The aim is that the cost of living doesn’t increase because real-life performance for energy use and indoor comfort is guaranteed for up to 30 years. A complete home makeover can take less than 10 days and has been done in as little as a day.
Energiesprong a worldwide movement
Energiesprong is an award winning revolutionary, whole house refurbishment and new built standard and funding approach. Energiesprong is facilitated by independent Market Development Teams that intervene in the market by creating demand for this standard, increasing and improving supply capabilities, and tuning policy, regulation and finance to make a viable path to scale. By brokering large volume deals, we create the momentum needed for stakeholders to act simultaneously. This creates a viable market to entice suppliers to invest in digital off-site manufacturing. Mass customisation and industrialisation are the key. We are active in Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, New York State, and the UK. Cities across the world recognise the Energiesprong opportunity.
Learn more about the international movement at www.energiesprong.org
