Financial Models
Article September 2020
Currently the business model for the renovation panels is being discussed. The partners focus on the market in the Netherlands first, and have identified five customer target groups. The first target group is the (social) housing corporations, who have gotten specific targets for greening their housing stock before 2050. During the sessions, the participants identified the needs and wishes of these housing agencies and also identified the potential barriers for buying the renovation panels as designed so far.
One of the important issues identified to work on is gaining the trust of the housing corporations for whom the INDU-ZERO solution is going to help realizing their long-term goals. A number of launching demonstration housing projects as well as the organization of factory visits is seen as key to demonstrate the product in practice. One of the important discussion points during the session was that the traditional way of thinking of renovation as a ‘project’ needs to change: INDU-ZERO panels are to be seen as a ‘product’, even though it is to a certain extent customizable for different housing types as well as different tastes.
Other customer target groups, next to housing corporations, that have been identified for the Netherlands are owner-occupants and professional- as well as private investors. So far, the discussions have focused on the housing corporations and the possibilities to create a viable business model based on their needs. As this market is complex – there are many stakeholders involved – it is not easy to formulate a value proposition as well as a way of working that would suit the needs of all of them.
Contribution: Jacques Bazen, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands
Article March 2019
Innovative solutions
As a housing corporation, we are faced with an enormous task to make all existing social housing CO2 neutral before 2050. This won’t be possible at the current rate and at the current investment rates. Domijn simply does not have the resources to finance the renovation costs. That is why we are looking for innovative solutions to speed up sustainability and make it affordable.
We have every interest in investing in sustainable developments. After all, we are striving for good and affordable housing for our tenants. Reducing energy costs is also an important motivator. Currently there is no balance between the investments and the increase in the value of houses after renovation. As a housing corporation we can set an example.
INDU-ZERO can make an enormous contribution to innovation in the construction industry and therefore better and sustainable renovation solutions, against significantly lower investments in the medium and long term. Domijn's role in the INDU-ZERO project is to provide input for the performances and properties that renovation packages must meet, facilitate showcases (renovation in practice) and assess the prototypes. In addition, we will be ambassadors of this way of looking for innovative industrialized solutions. We would like to discuss this with other housing corporations, so together we can make the necessary steps in making the building industry more sustainable.
Contribution: Sophie Oosterbroek, Domijn (housing corporation in the Netherlands)