Collaboration as the Key to Success

The success of district heating networks depends on close collaboration within a neighborhood. The more homes that participate in a district heating network, the better it is for affordability. The parties agree in this agreement to strive for district heating networks in promising areas.

The main points of the collaboration agreement are:

• District Heating unless: Parties choose a collective energy solution as a starting point, unless an individual solution (heat pump) is clearly more advantageous.
• Natural gas no longer a reference: Parties do not see natural gas as an alternative in the future. Financial calculations only consider natural gas-free alternatives.
• Affordability: A specially developed calculation tool compares collective heating solutions with an individual heat pump per home. Housing corporations use it to guarantee affordability for tenants.
• Insulation: Housing corporations make the homes suitable for connection to a low-temperature district heating network. This takes an important step in reducing CO2 emissions and lowering energy costs for tenants. It also increases the living comfort for tenants.
• Reasonable return for heating company: The heating company calculates a maximum reasonable return so that the company remains financially healthy. Any extra returns benefit residents as much as possible.

Framework for Citywide Collaboration

This collaboration agreement forms the basis for broader collaboration in Eindhoven. Specific agreements for district heating networks will be further developed in project agreements at the neighborhood and community level.

» Read more about this collaboration agreement on the website of the Sustainability Pact.