What is the state of building energy efficiency in Flanders? And where do collective renovations make sense? Families with renovation plans, but also towns and cities, grid operators and contractors are looking for user-friendly tools. VITO/EnergyVille has developed two tools that contribute substantially to Flemish renovation policy.

Energy-efficient renovation is on the rise. Further promotion of the concept requires more information about the current energy performance of buildings and the behaviour of residents. Within the European Request2Action project, EnergyVille developed a centralised hub for energy consumption data. EnergyVille collects that data and makes it accessible through two tools: an online questionnaire and a visualisation tool. Virginia Gomez Onate of EnergyVille:

We combine data on how people live with information about buildings, energy performance and possible sustainable renovations. The results can be used by governments, energy suppliers and contractors.

Put your house on the map

Families can fill in an online questionnaire on the user-friendly website ‘Put your house on the map’. “We inquire about the family composition and the intention to renovate. And we ask for information about the house. Those who complete the questionnaire are sent a report by email describing the house’s energy score compared to similar homes and families. This makes people aware of their living situation.”

Insight into renovation potential

EnergyVille combines the data from ‘Put your house on the map’ with geometric data and displays it on a map. This City Portal is only accessible to specific users. At present, these are the city of Genk and grid operators Infrax and Eandis. The buildings are divided into categories on the map. A range of filters allow the user to perform targeted searches. For example, you can display only the buildings that are in poor condition and whose owners are considering a renovation. “This tool helps governments monitor the state of buildings, and align their policies accordingly. It is also a useful tool to check where collective renovations are possible.”

Also for contractors

The Request2Action project ran until June 2017, but EnergyVille has plans to further develop the tools. Virginia Gomez Onate: “Firstly we are looking at ways to include more data. Links to other databases and tools might also be interesting. And we also want to open up the platform to contractors who can use it to assess their market potential. They will only have access to aggregated data so that the privacy of the residents is protected. Finally, we wish to persuade even more people to complete the questionnaire.”