The ICCARus project has come to an end!
We celebrated the finalised renovations with the project participants during small events, organised per neighbourhood. Together with the project partners and the Communication Service of the City of Ghent, we made some ‘traveling exhibition panels’ that were installed on the different locations. It was a great way to strengthen the social networks again, to exchange experiences and to look at some of the results and the photographic project carried out by one of the groups.
Before the renovation, none of the houses were compliant with the Flemish Housing Code, ensuring basic living quality and energy efficiency. Now, 88% of the houses are compliant with the Flemish Housing Code. The most common renovation works were: providing roof insulation (+/- 60%), installing new windows or doors (+/- 60%), providing a new heating system (+/- 50%) and the update of the electric system (+/- 80%).
The Energy Performance Certificate has improved on an average from E to C level, from 482 kWh/m²/year to 249 kWh/m²/year. This is already a significant improvement, for the goals of achieving the A level, the investment would need to be upgraded, as 30.000 euros is just enough to cover the main renovation works.
The living quality of residents and their satisfaction with the home has improved substantially. After renovation, there is a strong increase in the proportion of residents who are very happy to be at home, from 49% before the renovation to 81% after the renovation.
We can also see that the state of the house has an impact on the confidence and the way people think about themselves. This quote shows exactly what the renovation of a house can change in the lives of people:
“I live in a nice neighbourhood, but the façade of my house is in a bad state. I feel like it is a disgrace for the neighbourhood. In my contacts with the neighbours, I noticed that it bothered them. That had an impact on me as well and made social interaction more difficult. After the summer my façade will be renovated. The prospect of seeing the problems solved gives me peace of mind. The neighbours notice the poster in my window, they come over to ask questions about the project. And some people ask me if they can see the works that are being done. I’m happy to explain the project to them. I’m proud of my home. I will be so happy when the annex will be finished and I can invite people to enter a finished home!”
Want to know more? Take a look at this booklet.
Housing
