Local community engaged in MUSE GRIDS through August 2021 in OUD-HEVERLEE, BELGIUM
During the month of August, MUSE GRIDS partner THNK-E!, responsible for the demosite of Oud-Heverlee, in Belgium, has organised and held a very peculiar activity in the neighbourhood to engage with the citizens. Despite being experts in raising energy community awareness with the local stakeholders thanks to MUSE GRIDS and other projects managed by the partner in that area of Belgium, the closeness with the local citizens had to slow down with the ongoing pandemic in the last year and a half.
But an opportunity came up during this summer: a new improved neighbourhood battery was being installed in the neighbourhood, offering insulated concrete walls which adds thermal inertia and reduces the need for heating and cooling, hence making the battery operation more efficient. But concrete is grey, anonymous and not attractive. Hence, the idea coming from THNK-E!: engaging the local children to paint the neighbourhood battery!
This idea proved to be great: while children had fun and learned to collaborate, another MUSE GRIDS partner, from not so far, TU Eindhoven, could come and attend the event, administering a survey with the caregivers of the children involved in the painting activity.
The work in Oud-Heverlee and Osimo is ongoing, with more developments coming up in Autumn 2021.