Bedrijvencentrum regio Kortrijk
| Type | Business |
|---|---|
| Sector | Other |
| Business size | 1-9 |
| Area of green Expertise | Staff engagement |
| Business network/ Club membership |
BC Region Kortrijk is member of several employers' organisations: VKW, VOKA and UNIZO. BC Region Kortrijk is also a member of the BC Group (30 members in total). |
| Website | www.bckortrijk.be |
| Contact | Contact this case study |
Bedrijvencentrum (BC) Kortrijk is a shared facility located in Wevelgem, the area of Kortrijk, in the South of West-Flanders Province. BC facilitates the start-up, or growth to the next phase, of young companies and offers the necessary infrastructure, secretarial and logistic services and a management support that may be helpful to realize their plans. BC tries to take away any obstacles new companies face, so they can focus on their core business.
- The existing shared facility building has been retrofitted to a low carbon building in 2009.
- Our BC team has tried to engage our tenants to save energy, using POM West-Flanders' energy campaign.
Part of the existing shared facility in Wevelgem was built in1925 and another part in the seventies. All buildings badly needed to be retrofitted.There were three reasons for retrofitting:
- to create an attractive place for starters (modern image and higher comfort),
- to avoid standing idle and
- to lower the energy costs.
The most important energy saving measures were:
- extra roof and facade insulation,
- mechanical ventilation with heat recuperation,
- more natural daylight (by creating a light shaft and patio)
- movement detection system for switching on/off the lights and better light scattering through mirrors,
- a renewed efficient central heating system with a 'late work' button.
The hard work and temporary disadvantages during retrofitting were worth the higher comfort and lower energy costs afterwards.
By our eco-friendly retrofitting of the BC building, we hope to set a good example. First of all, by creating energy awareness among the tenants, so they would later pay attention to sustainability aspects when they buy or build their own building. Furthermore, I hope to show to other shared facilities' managers the feasibility and advantages of such a retrofitting project.
Planning and supervisionwere very well organized by the architect during the retrofitting project. Additionally, transparent communication towards the tenants has been a must!
One thing I would do differently is better protect the tenants from the dusty environment during the retrofit.
The retrofitting has brought us several advantages. Since the re-opening of the BC, new tenants have rented an office here. At the moment, BC Kortrijk is fully occupied. Furthermore, several local and regional network events have taken place at our attractive site. This is a very important promotional tool. This low carbon retrofit has had a positive economical impact!
Support by POM West-Flanders: www.pomwvl.be
Funding by Agentschap Ondernemen (Business agency): www.agentschapondernemen.be
