International attention towards energy efficiency improvement is growing, pressuring the built environment to become more sustainable. Part of this energy efficiency improvement must be achieved at Dutch primary school buildings, but insufficient- and separation of budgets complicate the development of sustainable school buildings. Subject to this financial pressure, the current poor state of primary school buildings in terms of indoor environmental quality is, and will remain insufficient. Affecting performance, productivity and health of students and staff, and additionally having a monetary impact on school boards.
The inability to achieve energy efficiency in combination with good indoor environmental quality, within the available financial means, is for a large part explained by a lack of knowledge and experience in building renovation by many Dutch school boards. Often, indoor environmental quality is one of the first things to suffer from insufficient funds. A decision-making framework is developed to provide school boards with the necessary knowledge and insight to better finance and organize renovation projects, providing more (financial) room to address the indoor environmental quality of their school buildings. Leading to more balanced school buildings in terms of People (indoor environmental quality), Planet (energy efficiency), and Profit (costs).
This framework comprises of a decision flowchart, supplemented by sustainable measure packages, that facilitates school boards in the renovation decision making process. The flowchart provides school boards insight in the decision-making process, (technical, financial and organizational) renovation opportunities, and effects of-, and on-, indoor environmental quality. This flowchart is developed using desk research, qualitative interviews and expert meetings. Then tested by obtaining qualitative expectations in interviews with school boards and a focus group with financial experts.
The expectations are that the decision-framework does provide more insight in the renovation decision-making process and opportunities, and that this could lead to better financing and organization of school building renovation projects. By raising problem awareness about indoor environmental quality effects, the framework is also expected to contribute to improved indoor environmental quality in renovated school buildings.
For further research, guiding school boards in contracting market parties is advised. This addition should present how to challenge contractors to come up with smart solutions to fulfil the ambitions of school boards. Furthermore, the flowchart should be tested by ’eenpitters’ (school boards managing a single school), as they are often mentioned as key beneficiary. Also, the development of a digital version of the flowchart could enable easy use and sharing of the tool as well as easy coupling with other existing instruments.
Finally, for further development the following ’rules’ should be kept in mind: the strength of the flowchart is in its simplicity, don’t develop something new, bring together existing instruments, and use the language of the educational sector.