Refurbishment of apartment buildings in The Netherlands with VIP technology results in improved EPC

This case study shows an example of how Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) contributed to improve the energy efficiency of apartment buildings in a cost‑efficient manner. The energy performance certificate (EPC) of the buildings improved from energy rating F to rating B.

The apartment buildings Pucciniflat, Mascagniflat, Mahlerflat and Perosiflat in Tilburg, Netherlands, were refurbished in 2014. The budget did not allow the replacement of the existing wooden window frames. The team decided then to use VIPs to increase the insulation value of the parapet in order to achieve a better energy label rating. The use of VIPs brought a number of advantages: it avoided an extensive and time-consuming change of the existing construction; the existing heating pipes and the mounting brackets of the radiator could be kept and the thin-walled wooden door and window frames were preserved.

Sebastian Baars, Vaku-Isotherm’s CEO and Board member of VIPA International stated: “This case study is another great example of the different advantages VIPs bring to the refurbishment process of buildings. In this case it was possible to preserve existing elements and at the same time increase the energy efficiency of the overall façade. An increase in the EPC rating from level F to level B is a considerable improvement.”