Research group New Energy in the City
Sustainability is the primary research focus of HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. Our research group develops and shares knowledge with companies, institutions, governments and citizens with the aim of making cities more sustainable and liveable. Our focus is on energy transition in the built environment and on circular construction, management, maintenance and renovation.
Lines of research within the research group
Construction is a complex process. Many products and parties are involved. Moreover, higher demands are being made in terms of energy and circularity, user choice and adaptability, among others.
To meet such demands, we need new products, processes, concepts and tools. Within the research group we tackle this issue through co-design. We build on the latest insights from systems engineering, integrated product-process development, organisational science and risk management.
If you want to renovate homes to be energy-neutral or gas-free, various measures must often be combined. Resources, time and capacity for innovation are limited, so what do you focus on? How future-proof are the existing renovation concepts for individual terraced houses? How should we deal with climate change? Solutions are also needed for other types of buildings, such as flats.
Shaping the energy transition means examining each street and neighbourhood to determine which approach would lead to the optimum result. At the same time, residents need to know that they are being supported during their selection process and that the professionals involved are able to organise their work efficiently. In this line of research, we work with partners from professional practice to develop resident-oriented solutions. In doing so, we have opted for designing in co-creation.
Projects
- One Stop Shop housing renovation
Life cycle-thinking at social housing organizations beyond the pilot
Structural implementation of life cycle-thinking (considering the impact of the entire life cycle of dwellings on the environment, residents, and production chain) is difficult for social housing organizations.
ENPOR: Actions to Mitigate Energy Poverty in the Private Rented Sector
Energy poverty is a well-known problem in many European countries. Many people are unable to pay their energy bills because energy costs are rising and energy savings are being achieved only slowly. Despite various policy measures to combat energy poverty directly or indirectly, the number of European residents with energy poverty in the private rental sector is increasing. This sector is also characterized by the fact that it is very difficult to identify tenants with energy poverty and to reach them with the right means.
Saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions in existing buildings
The HU is working with companies to develop a market for private individuals who want to make their homes energy-neutral.
Education
Our research results are incorporated in the degree programmes of Engineering, Built Environment, as well as in other programmes. These results are even stimulating the emergence of new degree programmes. Thanks to our research, HU graduates are professionals who have developed the necessary knowledge and skills to make cities, neighbourhoods and (parts of) buildings energy neutral and circular.
“The energy transition cannot be solved by a single knowledge domain. We will have to explore new ways of planning to tackle complex tasks in an interdisciplinary manner, with precision and more support”
Mieke Oostra Professor of New Energy in the City
Collaboration
The research group collaborates in research and other projects with various local and regional authorities, civil society organisations, institutions and companies in the construction and installation sector.