Case Study: SWL Refurbishment of “Clos des Châtaigners” and “Clos des Charmes” - SHELTER Project

Short Description

Global renovation of 72 housing units located in two “clos” in Tubize. – Belgium (Walloon Region) and built in the 70’s, with an experimental construction system designed to promote the use of steel in construction.

The work includes a building energy audit in order to prepare the refurbishment plans and to present all the energy efficient refurbishment options, but also the asbestos removal and buildings remediation. The project involves the insulation, the roof renovation, exterior joinery, placement of photovoltaic panels, the double-flow ventilation, the heating installation, compliance of electrical installation and of the fire system, sanitary, finishes such as flooring, partitioning and ceilings. And outfitting of the surroundings of the dwellings (construction of small squares, garages, roads sidewalks, gutters and sewer...)

Key Elements

Main Results

The main results outcomes must include the values related to energy and investment of the following list.

Energy:

• Energy consumption previous renovation kWh/m2year  90,72 kWh/m²/year;
• Expected energy consumption after renovation kWh/m2year  55,03 kWh/m²/year;
• Energy consumption after renovation kWh/m2year  59,08 kWh/m²/year.

Investment:

• Renovation investment per dwelling 65.000,00 €;
• Percentage of the renovation investment per dwelling applied to energy saving elements  30%;
• Average renovation investment of previous projects per dwelling 60.000,00 €;
• Time employed from inception to completion of the renovation project (by phases) 470 days;
• Average time employed from inception to completion of previous renovation projects (by phases) 500 days.

Lessons learned

Work has improved the following aspects:

Technical point of view:

• healthier environment (removal or encapsulation of asbestos-containing components, mold removal through the outer insulation and replacement of chassis)
• safer environment (installation of fire detection systems centralized upgrading elevators)

Urban point of view:

• improving the image of the city through the removal of a level garages, remodeling land to cover the cellars, the placement of a new skin facades and creating plots constituting spaces friendly meetings.

Social point of view:

• safer environment (security and access to common halls and garages
• significant reduction in the overall cost of heating consumption
• more friendly environment through the creation of plots
• less degradation renovated apartments, thanks to the "schooling" of the social team (Issue advice given to
  lessees)

The beneficiaries are mainly tenants, but also the Roman Pais and SWL by the decrease in complaints.

Impact

• Time saved : 11%
• Theoretical energy savings (only heating needs): 62%
• Real energy savings (heating + electricity needs): 40-42%

Possible improvements
All these steps would be in vain, without a real involvement of tenants. Indeed, we can determine all the criteria for selecting contractors, we can improve coordination between all stakeholders, we can calculate with auditing the energy performance of buildings, but without a real involvement of all tenants our Shelter project could be, in my opinion, useless. On paper, one can determine what will be the K building, but if your customer prefers to increase the temperature of the slot at 23 degree and open a window if it is too hot, no matter what renovation you will be planned to do will be useless, because its costs will not be reduced and benefits in reducing energy will be irrelevant.
I fully understand that the interests of project partners are divergent. In a business ground Shelter has to lead and focus on changes in public procurement rules, for architect’s minimum criteria standards of achievement, but the main objective still remains the tenants. Only the tenant holds the key to optimum energy performance. This essential ingredient must be done through relevant information for tenants.

 healthier environment (removal or encapsulation of asbestos-containing components, mold removal through the outer insulation and replacement of chassis)

Additional Information

Contact:

Manuel de la Orden
SWL - Société Wallonne du Logement
E-mail: m.delaorden@swl.be
Phone: +32 (0)71 200 211