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Business parks more sustainable thanks to BEST
The European BEST Energy CheckUp project is aimed at making networks of companies (such as in business parks or in an industry association) more sustainable through collective actions. CCS carries out the project in a consortium of TNO (the Dutch organization for applied scientific research) and the Italian research institutes ENEA and ART-ER. The project started in mid-2017 and ends in the end of 2019. Since 2017, good results have been achieved in various pilots, such as in Enschede, Haarlem and Bologna. The last and final meeting with the total consortium was on 28 and 29 November 2019, when the project was it’s ending phase. The highlight of this meeting was a symposium with an international character as we discussed the issues of organization and energy efficiency at work locations.
Our guests
Theo Föllings opened the symposium. Föllings works for the Bedrijventerreinen Energiepositief (BE+) and OOST NL, the development agency for the east of the Netherlands. Theo brought an inspired story full of educational experiences. He was able to draw on the extensive work that has already been undertaken on business parks by the BE + foundation. The most important lesson? Stimulating companies to take collective action is a costly and lengthy process, but it is definitely worth it when companies end up working enthusiastically and together.
The second guest to speak at the symposium was Dennis Potter from the CLOK foundation. This foundation is very active in facilitating effective actions by stimulating cooperation between public and private. Dennis’ story had a strong focus on the positive role that a park management organization or a business association can play in a network of companies. He tries to guide these organizations to the highest possible level of professionalism, preferably until they are efficient companies. For example, companies can unburden their members on various themes such as saving energy and sustainable energy production. In the future, TNO and CCS would also like to continue working with CLOK on this theme.
Finally, three of the members of the BEST consortium spoke to explain our methods and tools. Energy scans were discussed, both for the complete collective of companies and for companies individually. Just as important are the communication strategies with which you surround these technical products. All this was heard and discussed by a mixed audience of municipalities, industry associations, researchers and consultants.
The future
Even after the BEST project has ended, the partners remain committed to the theme of energy and sustainability in business parks and other networks of entrepreneurs. Would you like to spar with us on this interesting theme? Please contact us! we are happy to see if we can help you further.
