CiRe

Flemish public buildings and circular renovation

By 2030, Flanders aims to save 30% energy. Our public heritage plays a key role in this. In order to maximise the circularity of Flemish public buildings, Factor4, the Flemish Energy Company (VEB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) developed an innovative model contract with accompanying contract documents.

The contract is a performance contract and sets binding targets for energy and water savings, circularity, residual value and comfort of the renovated building. Interested parties can then tender for the contract as Energy Service Companies or ESCOs.

Within the CiRe project (Circular Renovation), we tested the model contract on a few projects of energy renovation of Flemish public buildings. We also developed some tools and procedures.

For example, we researched the cost-effective use of TOTEM by ESCOs (Energy Service Companies). During the tender phase they must be able to estimate the environmental costs of the materials used quickly and at the lowest possible cost.
Correction factors still had to be applied to the environmental costs calculated with TOTEM, among other things in connection with dismantling, re-use, etc. After several technical consultations with experts of VUB Architectural Engineering, VEB and Factor4, we developed a first test version of the CiRe Excel materials scoring tool.

Finally, the integration of the residual value was further developed. For the realisation of savings in the field of water consumption, it soon became clear that a similar methodology, namely realising savings via the water counter, would be too refined.

All these tools are used within the CiRe project in energy renovation projects of three Flemish building partners, representing 17 buildings and one district heating network.