THE PROTOTYPES OF CHANGE: A BOTTOM-UP APPROACH

Prototype 1 – Refugee squats and self-housing

A substantial body of research examines the living conditions within state-run refugee camps. However, little is known about refugee access to adequate energy and affordable housing outside of these camps. PREFIGURE analyses collective actions and solidarity initiatives designed to address the energy poverty and substandard housing quality experienced by refugees in Greece. Moreover, the research focuses on self-housing and squatting arrangements by refugees, located in underprivileged neighbourhoods in city centres, mostly taxonomized in a low energy class, incurring high energy costs that refugees struggle to cover.

Thessaloniki, GR – UvA

Prototype 2 – Christiania

Christiania, an autonomous neighbourhood in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark. Established in 1971 by activists and artists, it functions on the principles of collective ownership of land and assets, emphasising affordability and self-governance. The housing is non-commodified, with rents way below the average for the area, funding community needs, and homes maintained by residents. The Nabovarme project, initiated in 2001, introduced renewable energy solutions, transforming heating into a collective effort using wood pellets, solar energy, and geothermal systems integrated into a Thermonet. By prioritising renewable energy sources, practices involving Do-It-Yourself (DIY) initiatives and collective strategies, Christiania offers an innovative community-driven prototype for addressing the Housing-Energy Nexus.

Copenhagen, DK – MAU

Prototype 3 – CommonEN

The energy cooperative CommonEn, established in 2021 in Ioannina, Greece, launched its first solar park in 2023. This initiative has the capacity to provide electricity to 35 households and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Supported by the organisation Electra Energy, the cooperative is dedicated to promoting sustainable energy and addressing energy poverty. Operating in a region characterised by high unemployment and an ageing population, CommonEn represents a grassroots social innovation for community-centred energy solutions.

Ioannina, GR – IMPERIAL

Prototype 4 – WG Ketelhuis

The WG-Ketelhuis project in Amsterdam is a community-driven energy initiative established in 2018 with the objective of transitioning a central neighbourhood from gas-based heating to the utilisation of heat sourced from nearby canals, which is stored underground and distributed via heat pumps for year-round heating. The project emphasises common ownership, democratic decision-making, and a Do-It-With-Others (DIWO) approach, fostering social cohesion and empowering residents to govern their energy needs. As a prototype of social and frugal innovation, WG-Ketelhuis addresses energy inequities by offering a cost-effective, sustainable, and community-led alternative to traditional energy systems.

Amsterdam, NL – UVA

Prototype 5 – Reviu

Reviu is an online platform launched in 2024 in Barcelona by the IDRA cooperative, facilitating the exchange of reviews from tenants on the quality of rental apartments and landlords. The platform was developed to address the shortcomings in housing equity and transparency within Spain’s rental sector, by incorporating tenant perspectives. The evaluation encompasses aspects such as housing quality, thermal comfort, rent fairness, and landlord communication. The application of Reviu can be considered both a technological innovation and a communing practice, with the potential to foster a collaborative tenant community while promoting accountability in the rental sector.

Barcelona, ES – IDRA

Prototype 6 – Non-profit Housing Associations

Non-profit housing associations (NPHAs) in Denmark provide affordable, democratically governed housing for approximately 20% of the population, supported by state subsidies and municipal oversight. Governed by tenant-elected boards, these associations ensure cost-based rents and cater to diverse social groups, including students, the elderly, and the disabled. The sector also fosters energy communities, as evidenced by Øbro95, where residents, with support from the municipality and green software developer Enyday, installed solar panels and a battery system. While this model promotes sustainability and cost optimisation, challenges such as financing and scalability in less affluent areas remain critical issues for broader implementation.

Denmark, DK – MAU

Prototype 7 – WikiHousing

WikiHousing is a participatory initiative in Barcelona that delivers affordable, sustainable public housing through co-design and community involvement. The initiative was founded by architects David Baró and David Juárez, with the objective of addressing the issue of housing affordability. The project utilises lightweight balloon frame construction and modular design, representing an innovative approach to the challenges posed by the availability of land, housing and energy in the city. Supported by the city’s BIT Habitat Foundation, its aims at empowering residents to co-create and manage their homes. In this way, WiKiHousing combines blending technological innovation with participatory governance to promote community-led urban design.

Barcelona, ES – IDRA

Prototype 8 – Brixton Energy

Brixton Energy, a citizen-led cooperative based in South London, is an organisation that promotes clean, renewable energy sources while ensuring tangible benefits for the local community. Through active community engagement, shareholder participation, and the creation of green jobs, Brixton Energy reinvests its profits into a Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) to further its impact. Operating as a community-owned cooperative, it collaborates with the local borough administration, which provides financial and institutional support, fostering sustainable, community-centred energy solutions.

London, UK – IMPERIAL

Prototype 9 – CODE HOUSING Microloans

Habitat Bulgaria, a constituent element of the global Habitat for Humanity network, is dedicated to the enhancement of living conditions for vulnerable families through the provision of affordable housing, advocacy, and energy efficiency initiatives. In 2022, it initiated the CODE HOUSING programme, offering microfinance solutions and life skills workshops to improve housing and community resilience in six Bulgarian cities. The programme promotes energy efficiency through both basic and renewable energy solutions, fostering community empowerment and collaboration with local NGOs, authorities, and experts. The CODE HOUSING initiative is noteworthy for its comprehensive approach, integrating financial innovation, capacity building, and sustainable development for marginalised communities.

Burgas, BG – CSD

Prototype 10 – One Stop Shop

Bulgaria’s one-stop-shop (OSS) initiatives for housing/ energy upgrades highlights a service model that facilitates energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements for residential buildings. The establishment of the first municipal energy centres in Gabrovo and Burgas has been instrumental in consolidating expert advice, financial assistance, and regulatory guidance, thereby making energy upgrades accessible to low-income families. The centres have been found to empower citizens through the facilitation of workshops, whilst reducing administrative barriers and promoting sustainable solutions that ensure cost-effective home improvements. This initiative is part of the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan, which aims to make energy-efficient renovations both achievable and sustainable for all.

Bulgaria, BG – CSD

Prototype 11 – Housing Thessaloniki

The pilot programme Housing Thessaloniki, Greece, has been devised to address both the housing crisis and energy poverty by renovating 30 apartments into safe, affordable, and energy-efficient publicly-owned housing. Vacant and underused properties have been identified as the target of this initiative, with the aim of integrating them into a network of affordable housing for low-income households. A collaborative effort involving state bodies, local organisations, and the municipality, presents a sustainable alternative to the conventional housing market by providing immediate relief and long-term solutions for housing insecurity.

Thessaloniki, GR – KIT

Prototype 12 – Energy Districts

The KfW432 subsidy in Germany, which was available to citizens from 2011 to 2024, supported the creation of energy districts under the “energy efficient urban redevelopment” programme by KfW Bank. Following the subsidy’s termination in 2024, the Karlsruhe Energy and Climate Protec-tion Agency (KEK), a non-profit organisation established by the city, has continued to promote energy districts. The primary focus of the KEK has been on the provision of advisory services to households in these districts, initially through direct visits and more recently through the establishment of information points and the dissemination of information materials via postal mail. This ensures the ongoing implementation of energy efficiency initiatives in urban redevelopment.

Karlsruhe, DE – KIT

Prototype 13 – Thermo Bello

Thermo Bello is a community-led heating provider based in Culemborg, the Netherlands. Established in 2008, Thermo Bello uses residual heat from the nearby drinking water company Vitens to heat 230 homes, two schools and seven commercial and office premises. Thermo Bello is one of the first resident-led energy providers in the Netherlands to operate a collective heating infrastructure. The key innovation of this energy cooperative is the shared ownership and maintenance of the infrastructure. Thermo Bello is part of the eco-town E.V.A. Lanxmeer, a sustainable neighbourhood founded in 1996.

Culemborg, NL – UVA