print mail RSS

Energy in the urban environment

Given declining stocks, growing foreign dependence and the familiar range of environmental impacts, we must make wise use of the energy available to us. Luckily, there are still a great many options available for avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and improving the efficiency of useful applications. The conversion efficiency of combined heat and power (CHP) plant can also be further improved, but the greatest gains are to be achieved by boosting the efficiency of household appliances, through intelligent combination of local energy systems and by storing heat and cold for later use.

What do we do?

We research and advise clients on the market mechanisms and configurations that can encourage efficient use of energy, whether it be by the major market players, local government or end users. Our main focus is on energy conservation and energy efficiency in the urban environment and in greenhouse horticulture. Our aim: to establish clear-cut government targets with which market players can then comply as they best see fit. Which particular technologies are adopted is up to industry and consumers, for only then will efficiency targets be achieved at least cost to society and on a level playing field.

We operate from a position of independence, between government, market parties and environmental NGOs, in the Netherlands as well as at the European level, for the focus of energy policy will be increasingly international in the coming years.

We are improving Built Environment by:

Providing tools for improved quantifying of energy efficiency
Mobilising market players and creating alliances for sustainable development
Identification and removal of barriers to a green energy market

What can we offer?

Both nationally and internationally there is a policy deficit when it comes to built environment, and nowhere is this truer than for the existing building stock. So we’re crafting novel policy tools to ensure the market operates within the constraints of sustainability, among them the Energy Performance Index for new housing estates, EPL, energy labelling, power product disclosure and the CO2 index. We also get parties round the negotiating table, as we have done for the Rijnmond Heat Company and the Dutch ‘Market and Environment’ project, where we’re working together with market players and government to develop more rigorous policies on energy saving. Our aim: to create a stable and attractive marketplace for investors in energy-efficient options and technologies.

Our clients include the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, the Association of Netherlands Provincial Authorities, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, Eurelectric and Agentschap NL.

If you have any questions,
please contact Cor Leguijt