On Thursday, January 15, the Energy Brabant session on the Neighborhood Approach to Sustainable Energy will take place. By 2050, all energy must be renewable. For homes, this means saying goodbye to natural gas and switching to a sustainable alternative. But how do you involve residents in these choices? And how do you ensure it remains affordable for everyone?
During this online session, presenter Anne-Marie Fokkens will talk with various experts about how to achieve a joint neighborhood approach, the challenges involved in realizing a heat network, and how to properly involve residents in the choices.
From Technology to Everyday Life
The transition to sustainable heat is not purely a technical issue. Every home is different, and every resident has their own concerns, questions, and possibilities. The social side of the energy transition therefore plays an increasingly important role. The Province of North Brabant sees a clear challenge here: to keep the transition feasible and affordable for all residents.
In the first part of this session, Willem de Graaff explains how the province supports municipalities with conditions, tools, and knowledge, so that not every municipality has to reinvent the wheel.
Opportunities, Challenges, and Resident Perspectives
Martijn Messing (Turn Bright) and Roel Woudstra (Stichting Buurkracht) delve deeper into what residents need to get moving. Why do some residents join in while others drop out? How do you deal with financial uncertainty, lack of trust, or simply the feeling that sustainability is a hassle? It also covers why individual solutions sometimes make it harder to realize an affordable collective heat solution and how municipalities can work with both an individual and a collective track.
Practical Experiences from Brabant Neighborhoods
In the third part, social architects Maaike Wolfs and Amber share their experiences from daily practice. They take viewers behind the door, from residents struggling with financial worries to people who simply do not know where to start. Their message: the energy transition requires customization, time, trust, and proximity.
Want to learn more about the lessons learned from SIE2: the neighborhood approach to sustainable energy in Brabant? Then register for the Energy Brabant session: Neighborhood Approach to Sustainable Energy on January 15 at 11:00 AM.
These speakers share insights, experiences, and concrete examples:
- Willem de Graaff (Province of North Brabant)
- Roel Woudstra (Stichting Buurkracht)
- Martijn Messing (Turn Bright)
- Maaike Wolfs (social architect / energy advisor)
- Amber Linssen (Municipality of Veldhoven)
Ask your questions and join the conversation during this interactive webinar!
