Overview
Learn how to improve the energy efficiency of dwellings through the successful implementation of sustainable, stakeholder-inclusive renovations.
Course Highlights:
- Learn how to successfully collaborate in energy-efficient renovation processes;
- Incorporate multiple stakeholders' perspectives;
- Combine energy friendly renovations with circular economy principles;
- Learn from best practices in other countries and interact with peers from different countries and institutions;
- Receive feedback from lecturers from top universities.
To address climate change, the world needs to drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels. The construction sector is one of the biggest producers of CO2 emissions. One of the best ways of reducing the amount of energy used by households is by integrating energy efficient improvements in housing renovation schemes. This course is unique because it focuses on the needs and attitudes of different stakeholders. Their collaboration can make or break the implementation of such measures.
Is this course for you?
Professionals and consultants working for housing providers, architects, construction companies, or municipalities can immediately apply the knowledge and skills they gain on the course to sustainable housing renovations. Technology and finance are important, but successful collaboration in renovation processes is a third essential factor. It is one that is often neglected but is vital in achieving the ambitious climate goals. Projects often fail because they are too focused on technical and financial aspects. In this course you will use insights from the behavioral sciences to plan more ambitious energy retrofits through merging the interests of all stakeholders involved.
Creating a sustainable housing stock is a worldwide challenge. The way this challenge is addressed differs from country to country. By using energy efficient refurbishment examples from the Netherlands as conversation starters, professionals are stimulated to share and discuss experiences from their own countries. The course design triggers a lively dialog among participants in which practices and experiences are compared and contrasted. Examples used will be mainly from Europe and North America, but the course is open to participants from all countries.
After taking this course you will be able to:
- Use communication and collaboration skills to successfully facilitate energy friendly renovation processes
- Identify what is important for residents when it comes to an energy efficient renovation
- Determine the most suitable attainment level, and develop renovation and collaboration strategies for your sustainable housing project
- Understand and better deal with the multiple perspectives of the stakeholders involved. e.g. residents, housing providers, policy makers and construction companies
- Apply a 'total lifecycle costs' perspective and identify appropriate financial models.
The course is not just about increased knowledge; you will have the opportunity to interact with peers from different countries and institutions; you will receive feedback from lecturers, and you can integrate your personal learning goals into the case study you develop as a part of this course.
This course is delivered by experts from the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, and was shortlisted in 2016 for the prestigious Wharton Education Innovation prize.
Earn a Certificate from a Top Ranked University
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded a TU Delft certificate. TU Delft is ranked 3rd on the 2019 QS World Rankings of Architecture/Built Environment Universities.
Quotes on this course
"I joined this course to get a better understanding of the current situation regarding energy renovations. A lot of very interesting information was supplied. All the different parts of the course were nicely built up, with a variety of documents, presentations and videos. Group assignments were valuable."
Florentine Visser - Architect & Consultant
"In my daily work I am constantly dealing with advising mainly housing corporations. My strategic advice also includes advising the project management of renovations. Lately improving sustainability has become a guiding principle and it is setting the agendas. I enrolled in this course because we see a great value in the mutual collaboration in planning, preparing and executing renovation projects."
Giel Thijssen - Real State Senior Advisor
Details
Who delivers this course?
This course is delivered by experts from the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. The course is developed by Professor of Housing Management Vincent Gruis in close collaboration with Sustainable Building Professor Anke van Hal at Niyenrode Business University in the Netherlands. The course was shortlisted in 2016 for the prestigious Wharton Education Innovation prize.
TU Delft is ranked third on the 2019 QS World Rankings of Architecture/Built Environment Universities.
Course Syllabus
The course runs over seven weeks. Participants work on the development of an individual case study based on their own learning objectives. Students receive feedback from fellow students and personal guidance from instructors.
The themes per week are:
Week 1: Energy friendly renovation processes: an introduction
Introduction to energy friendly renovation processes; topicality and urgency of the task; setting the context: the Dutch situation in an international perspective; introduction of the case study assignment
Week 2: Ambitions and the 'Merger of Interests' approach
Ambition levels in energy friendly renovations; merger of interests: people, profit and planet; stakeholder analysis. The 'Merger of Interests' approach includes the considered combination of the interests of people, profit and planet. It does this not in the traditional way by focusing negotiation or consensus building but by delving deep into the real interests of all actors involved: What do they dream of? What keeps them awake at night? This course builds on the creativity, the energy, but also the conflict, generated from this fusion of interests.
Week 3: The residents' perspective
The residents' perspective: the interests of tenants and home owners; international perspectives on resident participation
Week 4: Broadening the context: beyond energy efficiency
Combining energy efficiency with security, aesthetics, neighbourhood, quality, social cohesion, health and happiness; international perspectives on the context beyond energy efficiency
Week 5: Combining perspectives
Collaboration in energy efficient renovations, circular economy solutions and innovations in process
Week 6: Financing energy friendly renovations
Sustainable business opportunities; financing for home-owners; phasing investments in a multi-year action plan
Week 7: Recap of energy friendly renovation processes and final case study report
Conclusion and reflection on lessons learned about energy friendly renovation processes; the applicability and transferability of lessons to other contexts; finalising and submitting the case study report.
Qualifications
Certificates
If you successfully complete this course you will earn a professional education certificate and you are eligible to receive 3.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Admission
This course is aimed at professionals with experience in the existing housing stock, who want to improve their management and collaboration skills, and update their knowledge on energy ambitious housing retrofits from a multi-stakeholder perspective.
Contact
If you have any questions about this course or the TU Delft online learning environment, please visit our Help & Support page.
