ONLINE BRUSSELS HERITAGE - ONE-DAY SEMINAR - 11/12/2014

THE BELGIAN BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE: A CONTRIBUTION TO HERITAGE MAINTENANCE EXPLORING THE TRAINING OF HERITAGE ADVISORS SPECIALISING IN ENERGY

MICHAEL DE BOUW AND SANDRINE HERINCKX
BELGIAN BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (BBRI)

IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF LISTED BUILDINGS IS A PRACTICE NOT YET COMMONPLACE IN BELGIUM. NEVERTHELESS, OPTIMISING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILT HERITAGE, WHETHER LISTED OR NOT, COMBINED WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY, OPENS UP NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES.

THE BELGIAN BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (BBRI) IS SPONSORING A SEVEN-YEAR PROJECT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO GIVE PRACTICAL EFFECT TO THE “ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE ADVISORS SPECIALISING IN ENERGY” MEASURE INCLUDED IN THE NEW CLIMATE PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE FLEMISH GOVERNMENT.

This article first presents the Renovation Laboratory, which is one of the Laboratories of the Belgian Building Research Institute (BBRI), before addressing an energy training project for heritage advisors that has recently started in Flanders.

WHAT IS THE BBRI?

The BBRI works on new and existing buildings undergoing renovation, including heritage buildings. It is a research centre for the construction sector.

It represents contractors in Belgium and currently has 90,000 members. We provide scientific and technical research and support and technical assistance advice to our members and, more generally, to professionals in the construction sector. We also conduct more specific research, under contract, for manufacturers, companies and public authorities. We produce technical publications and participate in scientific research projects as well as specific development projects for companies.

We work towards the establishment of standards (through participation in standards committees), and also support innovation, which brings us outside the standards context.

Our administrative offices are located in Woluwe-Saint-Etienne and our research centre, along with all the laboratories, is in Limelette.

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