PVE as a source for co-creation in the sustainable heating transition
Heating is a fundamental aspect of the human need for shelter in our colder climates. Providing heat is a key aspect of social life. It reaches far into people's homes and private lives, involving everyday habits and negotiations between building occupants and family members. Heat is a cultural service that cannot be seen through the lens of economic efficiencies and return on investments only. In the transition to sustainable heating, homeowners and local communities therefore form essential parts of the system. Their contribution to this low carbon transition by adopting sustainable heating technology for their homes and buildings is key to making it happen, and co-creation provides the space.
In contrast to traditional policy-making processes, co-creation engages and empowers local communities and allows them to co-design or even co-decide the planning and implementation of sustainable heating strategies. How does this translate into practice, especially in times of social distancing?
Novel online tools, such as participatory value evaluation, enable residents in a swift and accessible manner to give advice on different strategies for making homes and neighborhoods natural gas-free. An example is the case of a PVE for the gas transition in Utrecht, where over 600 residents stated their preferences and opinions on municipal scenarios to make 22.000 houses gas free by 2030. Our experts will present the benefits of applying PVE during the cross-border co-creation webinar on the sustainable heating transition on April 3rd from 9.30-12.30.
This webinar is part of SHIFFT (Sustainable Heating: Implementation of Fossil-Free Technologies) an Interreg 2 Seas project, running from 2019-2022, to assist cities in the development of low carbon heating strategies.
Please join this webinar through clicking on the link and share it with those who might be interested as well.