Energy consumption in social housing must be reduced and that calls for behavioural change of the occupants. Henk Visscher of OTB is supervisor of the TRIME research project, that aims to raise energy awareness in social housing complexes through 'energy ambassadors'.
It sounds obvious enough: take shorter showers and turn the thermostat down and you'll make huge savings on your energy bill. However, not enough people seem sufficiently convinced, not even in housing complexes for the poorest members of society. As tips from the government and housing corporations do not always have the desired effect, the European TRIME project (Trias Mores Energetica) is trying a different approach. In seven pilot areas across Europe, a total of sixty specially selected residents will receive training on how to cut their energy consumption and yet actually live more comfortably. "The underlying thought is that occupants would rather hear advice from their neighbours than from a large anonymous organisation, such as a housing corporation," Arjen Meijer (OTB) explains. "We believe this will increase support considerably."
Researchers from the Housing Quality and Process Innovation research group are working on the Dutch part of the project, in which two housing corporations are participating. Eigen Haard (Amsterdam) and Havensteder (Rotterdam) have each selected an apartment complex for the experiment. TU Delft researchers monitor and analyse the energy savings and help with the purchase or hire of energy-efficient appliances.
Housing corporations in Spain, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom will also train energy ambassadors to take part in the experiment. They will have the task of encouraging energy-saving behaviour among residents. By approaching neighbours about their behaviour, for example, or through social media. In addition to which they will help corporations identify the biggest obstacles.
The project groups will also encourage occupants to buy energy-efficient appliances. That won´t be easy; how do you convince people who have to count every penny to buy an expensive fridge or washing machine? The TRIME project is therefore also researching possible alternatives, such as a selection tool to help people choose second-hand energy-efficient appliances or new ones for hire. The possibility of developing simple, cheap energy-efficient appliances specially for the social housing sector is also being explored in collaboration with manufacturers. During the research period the housing organisations will be actively encouraged to changed their purchase behaviour regarding heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Smart energy meters are used to register changes in energy consumption and to analyse the results of the TRIME efforts.
If these corporations are successful, other corporations may also participate. 75% of the three-year project, which commenced in September, is funded by the European Commission's Intelligent Energy Europe programme.