THE PROTOTYPES OF CHANGE: A BOTTOM-UP APPROACH

Municipalism and Top-down social energy initiative

The municipality of Amsterdam is working to make the south-east of the city energy neutral by 2040. This area -one of the most deprived in the city- has many ethnic minorities and a high concentration of social housing. A programme launched by the municipality in 2020 includes three living labs: the ArenApoort neighbourhood energy platform, Reigersbos home renovation packages, and the Amstel III sustainable heat network, which channels excess heat from a data centre to households.

However, residents are strongly opposed to these projects. They see the renovations as an invasion of their homes and are wary of the new technologies, especially metering, fearing it will make them more vulnerable.

Tools to accelerate apartment renovations

In order to address high energy consumption, heat loss, poor ventilation, humidity and outdated heating systems, prefabricated insulation on the walls is being implemented to provide support to individual homeowners who are facing renovation challenges. The aim is to enhance the quality of prefabricated housing, a standard construction type that originated during the Soviet era. The prototype, which is managed by the Estonian Corporation of Housing and Cooperatives, has demonstrated effectiveness over a two-year period. In addition to technological advancements, there are ongoing efforts to engage homeowners, earn trust, and facilitate informed decision-making, thereby enabling residents to remain in their apartments during renovation.

Digital housing catalogue

In Barcelona, a digital housing platform, managed by the local community, allows residents to share their experiences and reviews of various residential properties, including apartments, buildings, and public spaces. This platform serves to highlight deficiencies and benefits for prospective tenants, thereby providing valuable information for those seeking to rent properties in the area. Tenants are able to evaluate the performance of companies and practices, thereby fostering improvements and communication. Such transparency exerts pressure on homeowners to enhance housing quality, which in turn leads to an improvement in living conditions.

Invisible Energy Poverty of Refugees & Migrants

The research conducted in Thessaloniki examines the housing-energy nexus through two case studies. The first focuses on the daily necessities of the refugee population. In light of limited data about the experiences of refugees and undocumented individuals, this research will investigate the socio-spatial dynamics of discrimination and collaboratively develop and co-create alternatives for a just transition.

The second case study examines local policy innovation initiative with the objective of developing an affordable and energy-efficient social housing stock.