BEL: Behaviour, Energy transition, Low income (NWO/RVO)
The project is a collaboration of universities and public housing associations. Team: Ioulia Ossokina (lead), Vincent Roberdel, Vladimir Karamychev, Suzan Verberne, Theo Arentze, in collaboration with Atriensis, Woonbedrijf, Bazalt Wonen, PreWonen, Elan Wonen.
About the research
Dutch public housing providers need to make 2 million of their homes energy-efficient in the coming years, to keep up to the climate goals. Good insight into the costs and benefits of these upgrades is therefore crucial. Especially the benefits are difficult to predict however, as they depend on tenants' behaviour and differ by population group.
Our project uses statistical methods, digital models, machine learning, AI to measure and predict the effects of energy efficient homes on the environment and on tenants' finances, comfort, health. We develop tools to support public housing associations in targeting and planning the renovations.
Large-scale evaluation of insulation upgrades: behaviour and welfare
Article "Divergent effects of insulation upgrades" (Dutch). Using individual data of 200K households during 8 years, we find large differences in gas savings after insulation, by population group. We show that policy goals 'Fighting energy poverty' and 'Maximal environmental savings' bite each other. A tool helps prioritize insulation upgrades.
Paper "Welfare effects of energy-efficient houses" (under review). Using individual data of 125K households during 8 years, we compute and value the benefits of insulation by income group, including energy savings, comfort, environment. Low income people save 30% less gas and CO2 after the upgrade. This is partly compensated by the large increase in comfort they experience. At high natural gas price, private returns to insulation become positive, at low gas price they are not.
BEL videos
2024 First workshop Science meets Public housing (Dutch). Together with 100 participants (majority from housing associations), we look back at a successful and inspiring first interactive workshop Science meets Public housing: the People's aspect of energy transition, held at TU Eindhoven.
2022 Short video about BEL. "First results show large differences in the effects of renovations..."
How BEL started
2020 Press Release. NWO funds research by multidisciplinary team of four scientists led by TU/e.