In Mechelen, one in 10 commercial properties is empty. Often the buildings are so outdated that renovation or new construction is imminent. The city of Mechelen and Mest vzw try to look for a temporary use, but precisely because of this temporary nature, the incentive to invest in the sustainable use of the building is lacking. After all, nobody wants to invest in replacing outdated lighting, generating sustainable energy or recovering rainwater if it is only for temporary use.
With the MechCiCo project, the Klimaan citizens' cooperative aims to tackle that problem by working with local players to offer indoor comfort as a product-service to the users of such buildings. New or second-hand technical solutions are thereby adapted to changing users and later reused in other buildings.
Specifically, we applied this business model to the old library on the Monesstraat. Klimaan thus becomes the first practical example of a cooperative (citizen) CESCO, i.e. Circular Economy Service Company.
Klimaan vzw
Partners Mechelen, Mest vzw, Thomas More, Ecofocus
Sectors
Themes
Organisations
The MechCiCo project will continue. The Impact Estimator will continue to be maintained and there are plans to expand the tool for more devices. The Pandschap Rivierenland has been set up as a sustainable concept that can renovate permanently vacant properties and guide them to social renting.
Furthermore, the project 'Municipality as Circular Construction Director' is working to get inventoried building components onto the reuse market even better.
Klimaan vzw gets results from the use of volunteers with supervision by a paid employee. The city of Mechelen is thinking about setting up new tandems between city officials and the citizen movement to speed up the resolution of difficult challenges.
With the help of CECI European project money, a youtube video was also made about MechCiCo's project results. Be sure to take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaJ6YzpJMZQ