Higher Education Institutions are not just centres of learning. They are dynamic ecosystems
with significant environmental footprints and societal responsibilities. Due to their expansive operations, these organisations typically have vast infrastructure and services, which require various products to support them. These products, in turn, generate substantial waste. However, despite the growing importance of Circular Economy principles, many continue to operate within linear systems. Moreover, challenges arise when implementing strategies aimed at enhancing circularity. This thesis proposes a novel approach that combines technical and organisational aspects into a single framework; Material Flow Management. It supports the transition towards circular campus operations. The application of this framework is demonstrated through the case study of Delft University of Technology.

The Material Flow Management framework is designed specifically for TU Delft’s campus management structure and operations. The Material Flow Management Model is a key component of the framework, quantifying and visualising material flows within the campus ecosystem. This provides decision-makers with real-time data accessibility to identify areas for improvement and monitor progress. The framework supports the management of material flows and encourages critical evaluation of the current management structure in relation to implementing Circular Economy strategies. This evaluation is done by conducting interviews with important decision-makers within the organisations to ensure effectiveness.

It is committed to data-driven decision-making and continual improvement, ensuring TU Delft’s leadership in sustainable material management practices. This framework can be used by stakeholders to promote broader transitions towards a Circular Economy, both within and beyond the campus. This will help to advance the collective journey towards sustainable practices

Climate change poses a significant threat to global lifestyles, necessitating urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The Netherlands, committed to the Paris Climate Agreement, faces the challenge of meeting ambitious emission reduction targets set by the European Union's Fit for 55 initiative. However, the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind, and the electrification of industrial processes, strain the electricity grid, leading to grid congestion.
This thesis addresses the pressing question of designing and implementing renewable energy configurations in mixed business parks to increase renewable electricity usage and reduce grid congestion. Through a comprehensive approach, stakeholders are engaged, and a novel simulation tool combining Excel, Python, and EnergyPLAN is developed to evaluate various configurations.
Nine criteria, spanning economic, technological, social, and environmental aspects, are used to assess different configurations. A configuration featuring 6 MWp rooftop solar PV in an East/West orientation and 15% demand flexibility emerges as the optimal solution, significantly reducing grid congestion while providing economic benefits. Wind energy configurations coupled with solar PV achieve notable CO2 reduction but face integration challenges and higher costs.
Implications of integrating solar PV and flexibility extend to economic benefits, adaptation requirements, and exemplar roles for park stakeholders, governments, and Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Recommendations are provided for stakeholders involved in the energy transition, emphasizing collaboration, investment, and capacity building.
Future research should focus on including other energy and material flows on mixed business parks; a broader evaluation of the value proposition beyond direct economic benefits for the users on the park; and an in-depth analysis of the electricity balance using a detailed representation of the grid infrastructure.

Purpose:
Given the urgent need to decarbonize the building and construction industry to prevent a catastrophic climate breakdown. The United Nations has called for action from industry leaders to drastically decrease their carbon footprint, and bring it to zero by 2050 at the latest. Efforts to decrease operational carbon emissions associated with energy used to light, heat, cool, and power buildings are striving considerably. Attempts to minimize embodied carbon emissions, on the other hand, are falling behind. This has resulted in an increase in both the relative and absolute contribution of embodied carbon. The importance of the early design process concerning embodied carbon reduction has repeatedly been emphasized throughout the literature. Change in the early design process is required to reduce embodied carbon. The purpose of this research is to determine how real estate developers can steer on including embodied carbon during the early design process, to achieve net-zero carbon building ambitions.

Research question:
How can real estate developers steer on including embodied carbon during the early design process to achieve net-zero carbon building ambitions?

Methodology:
Qualitative research methods were used to answer the research question. Following a literature review to establish the theoretical background, ‘Research through design’ was used during the empirical research. Semi-structured interviews with real estate developers and design team members were conducted to Identify the relevant actors within the early design process and the activities that need to be completed to steer on embodied carbon. Furthermore, guidelines for real estate developers were developed to assist in achieving net-zero carbon building ambitions. The findings are used as input for the creation of a prototype that can be used by real estate developers. Finally, this prototype was validated and improved through two focus groups.

In the Netherlands, there is a large amount of buildings that are outdated according to today’s standards. Those existing buildings represent about 70% of the building stock in 2050. Updating these buildings in terms of functionality but mostly in terms of sustainability is therefore a highly relevant task at hand. To quote Prof. Mauro Overend in one of his lectures: “The most sustainable building is the one that has already been built”.
Among those buildings, what we could call brutalist buildings from the 1970’s and 1980’s represent a large part of our cityscapes. Those buildings are mainly built of concrete, are in general structurally sound, but although they are not to everyone’s taste, would cost a lot of energy to tear down. What’s more, due to poor insulation and dated climate systems, their energy efficiency is generally atrocious.
One good example of those brutalist buildings is the Academic Medical Centre (Academisch Medisch Centrum) in Amsterdam. Built at the beginning of the 1980’s, it is a concrete megastructure, Europe’s largest at the time of completion.
This graduation project is approaching the AMC building as a case study of how the brutalist buildings of the 1970’s and 1980’s could be renovated in a sustainable fashion.
The project has two components of sustaianability: the spatial design aims to introduce a social aspect to the layout of the research facility of the AMC ; the climate design introduces natural ventilation as a means to make the building more sustainable.
The education in the field of medicine has received new insights as to the advantages of exchange between researchers of different specializations. The current research facility is however not at all fit for such socializing. Where the official meeting rooms are already scarce, the informal meeting spots are practically inexistant. The spatial design of this project addresses that issue by creating informal meeting spaces, re-thinking the work floors’ layout and offering an inviting route to connect those spaces.
The climate system of the AMC, an all-air system with central air handling units, generates a high energy demand. By exploring the possibility of retrofitting natural ventilation couple with passive thermal treatment of the air, this design aims to show that very sustainable solutions are possible for apparently very un-sustainable buildings.

Focusing on Rifugio Carducci, an alpine hut in Dolomiti, Italy, this graduation project researched the interrelationships between user, building, and environment, designing an expansion and renovation project with the aim of making the refuge an integral and positive part of its ecosystem. The project proposes the of hydrogen as main energy carrier, given the availability of rainwater and highly efficient solar panel thanks to the altitude. The hut's renovation is achieved through prefabricated timber elements aimed at sheltering the shelter.

With rapid urbanisation and urban sprawl, biodiversity in Netherlands is rapidly declining with 70% reduction of species since the 1900. TU Delft campus is part The Hague-Rotterdam metropolitan region and an important green-blue connector with the surrounding forest-meadow-river landscape. However, there is limited opportunities in the human-centric campus to accommodate other species. Also, with the added pressure of climate change, the campus experiences more intense precipitation and longer drier periods. The lack of a stimulating environment falls short in igniting a sense of environmental stewardship which would contribute to sustainable practices for the urban ecosystem. In view of the situation, TU Delft is envisioned as a biodiverse, climate resilient and playful campus that engages humans, the built environment, plants and animals. The approach of the project is guided by the key principles and tool kits generated from case studies and theories. 20 existing fauna species in Delft are identified to allow for the consideration of potential species to be accommodated in the campus. Strategies of different scales are implemented to achieve the redefined campus. Through understanding the landscape characteristics on the regional scale, the surrounding landscape characteristics of forest, river and wet meadow is extended and introduced into the campus. Patches and corridors are improved and increased through methods such as multi-tiered planting. A living machine is designed on the TU North with a cleansing biotope system to ensure good quality water for habitat creation and play. Mobility network is redesigned to transform streets into parks and introduce green tram lines. Buildings are involved in the creation of vibrant campus by providing opportunities for human play, hosting habitats and storing water. The project involves stakeholders through engagement with the Green Manager of the Campus, Rene Hoonhout and received consultation from specialist of landscape engineering, landscape architecture and biologist. There is an ONSITE construction plan for the improvement of the banks of a canal within the campus. This project creates a framework for cities that aspires to become more biodiverse, climate adaptive and vibrant. TU Delft campus shall become an exciting and fun campus city for all, with an ecosystem that supports other species apart from humans. During extreme climate scenarios, the campus is also able to cope with heat and water stress with its self-regulating system.

5GDHC has the potential to decarbonize our heating and cooling provision. However, the lack of existing project and thus knowlegde of its tariff design is hampering its roll-out. The aim of this research is to provide insight into 5GDHC tariff design and potential tariff structures to support 5GDHC roll-out and thus encourage the uptake of renewable energy in the DHC sector.
The exploratory5GDHC tariff design in this study prioritised cost-reflectivity, efficiency and sustainability. Dynamic tariffs aimed at load shifting offer possibilities to promote these objectives. The proposed tariff structures contain a variable demand charge - based on subscription levels - an energy charge and fixed standing cost. Test indicated a significant improvement for cost-reflectivity and efficiency compared to a pure volumetric reference tariff. The sustainability component needs further review, as the results are not conclusive.
The criteria that should be fulfilled by future 5GDHC systems are decisive for tariff design options. Moreover, factors influencing 5GDHC design - like role distribution, data security and transaction cost - are becoming increasingly important to consider. Not only do they raise social acceptance issues for the technology itself, they could have a significant impact on the criteria tariff design.
The results of this thesis research show that a tariff structure containing a variable demand charge, an either flat or a TOU structured energy charge, and fixed standing cost can promote cost-reflective, economic efficient and sustainable heating and cooling for Dutch households by 5GDHC. Optionally, rebates to increase participation in automated operation can be included.

District heating systems offer great potential for facilitating the transition towards sustainable heating for metropolitan areas. This research provides an overview of roles and factors relevant to DH systems, identifies stakeholder types, their interests and influence, shows the relationship to system requirements and the lack of stakeholder involvement in the heat planning process. A three-step descriptive system design framework is presented, followed by the identification of improvements for the planning process.

This thesis analyses the impact of new energy efficiency regulations for the built environment on the development of highly energy efficient and zero energy office buildings. In The Netherlands energy efficiency regulation BENG and determination method NTA8800 will become effective januari 2021. BENG and NTA8800 will replace the current EPC and NEN7120 policies. This change in policy in The Netherlands is sparked because EPC and NEN7120 do not fit the framework of the international EPBD and Paris Climate Agreement. The research consists of three successive parts. The first part of the research consists of a scientific framework where the energy efficiency policies and the technical and financial feasibility of zero energy office buildings are studied. The second part of the research consists of an empirical research, formed by case studies of three zero-energy office buildings in amsterdam. The third part is a research by design. In this third part a technical design is proposed for developing zero energy office buildings within the framework of the new Dutch policies. The technical design is tested by making redesigns for the studied cases and used to evaluate the boundaries for developing zero-energy office buildings within the framework of the new policies. This research concludes that new energy efficiency policies are still not completely in line with the international agreements. Furthermore, it concludes that it is technically and financially feasible to develop zero-energy office buildings up to six floors within the framework of the new policies. This conclusion takes current market standards and proven technologies into consideration. For developing Paris-Proof office buildings, 10 to 15 floors are considered feasible. There are no limits on the number of floors for developing BENG compliant office buildings according to this thesis.

Global energy demand is on the rise. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2018, the building sector alone constituted 28 % of all energy-related CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the building sector, the European Union has decreed that every new building from 2021 must be a nearly zero energy building where the low energy for such buildings must come from renewable sources. While this policy works well for new buildings, there needs to be also a solution developed for existing buildings or monumental buildings to be able to easily harness renewable energy, without the need for any major and costly renovation. The concept of a flexible cloth-based solar curtain as a plug and play solution for existing buildings has been explored in the current research, with particular focus on a bifacial (two-sided) design, to assess the significance of the indoor reflected daylight and artificial lights on the rear side power output of such a semi-transparent solar curtain. An optical model representing a basic semi-transparent curtain comprising 70 % cloth of roughly 62 % transparency (based on availability), and 30 % of bifacial solar photovoltaic (PV) minimodules, is prepared as a base case. To validate the optical model, it is replicated on a smaller scale and tested using an identical experimental setup in a controlled environment using a solar simulator. Four cases are prepared for this: the curtain in an empty white-walled room, the curtain in the same room but with some furniture, the curtain in a shorter room with a white rear wall and the curtain in a shorter room with a black rear wall. An analysis of simulation and experimental results shows near likeness between the two with an error margin of 3.3 % for the base case to 10.6 % for the black rear wall case. Slight non uniformity of optical property inputs used in the simulation model and an overestimation of experimentally measured power due to a relatively lower irradiance seen by the reference cell are attributed to this difference. After successful validation of the optical layout, the model is made to scale in simulations to forma PV curtain module of 538.44 Wp DC installed capacity. Using a north-east facing room as reference, an annual simulation is found to give a total DC energy yield of 188.45 kWh or 323 kWh/kWp with a bifacial gain of 8.64 %. 10 hours daily of artificial lighting inside the office is seen to increase the annual DC energy yield by 1.33 %. With an assumption that the curtain remains closed throughout sunshine hours (since it allows diffuse light to enter through its porous cloth), the power output of the curtain is seen to meet modest DC annual load profiles of 57.76 kWh in an office room for 95 % of the year with a 145 Wh lithium ion battery bank and of 48.86 kWh in a residential room for 92%of the year, but with a much higher 290 Wh battery capacity, due to a greater mismatch between generation and demand. A sensitivity analysis for room orientation shows that for a more optimal azimuth of 202.5° (180° being south), the same curtain gives 82%more annual DC yield compared to its current orientation, but at a much lower bifacial gain of 7.8 %. When analyzed for performance in different locations across the world, the curtain intuitively gives the best yield for locations in the southern hemisphere due to its orientation towards the north east. Bifacial gain is nevertheless, most significant for temperate locations where low average annual insolation makes the gain due to bifacial more significant. In cases where the room depth is reduced by half, yield is seen to improve by 2.1 %. Halving the amount of PV in the curtain, improves the bifacial gain by nearly 0.6 % but reduces the annual yield by 49 %. Conversely, doubling the PV in the curtain, results in a dip in bifacial gain by about 3.6 %, but an increase in annual DC power by 87 %. Although this is attractive, such a case must be treated with caution since the likelihood of leaving this curtain (that is now more opaque than semi-transparent) open during sunshine hours is higher. This can result in a lower power output than the base case as well as worse aesthetics. Finally, it is concluded that a bifacial curtain is a beneficial for ‘solarizing’ existing buildings with minimal renovation. The bifacial aspect is best exploited for rooms with sub-optimal azimuths. Nevertheless, to make the most of the PV curtain, it is advised that itmust be placed in shorter rooms with large windows and ideally facing the most optimal direction.

Urban agriculture lies at the core of the Water Energy Food nexus and seems to provide a partial answer to confront modern trends such as population growth, climate change and resource depletion by increasing food security in cities and enhancing sustainability in an urban realm. The assembly of a WEF nexus framework taught, however, that most work that has been published on the nexus is very hypothetical and that the acquisition of quantitative data poses the biggest challenge in WEF nexus research. The mere absence of data collected at a local level impedes informed decision making on nexus sector integration and feasibility of sustainable solutions. This study attempts to bridge the existing knowledge gap and aimed to contribute to the quantification of the nexus regarding urban agriculture. It investigates the water, energy and nutrient demand of urban farms along with the presence of those resources in urban waters at three case study sites. Demands for water and nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) at a greenhouse in Amsterdam and a community farm and a container farm in East-Boston could be met by resources present in urban waters (rainwater and wastewater) in the direct vicinity. Whether enough energy is available to run each of these farms is related to the type of agriculture which is applied.

There is growing consensus around the world for the need to transition to a more sustainable society. This is transition is currently being led by making the energy sector more sustainable by shifting to renewable energy sources from fossil fuel sources at a steady pace. However, there seems to be increasing recognition that the steady pace may not be fast enough. Therefore, there are many cities, countries, organizations that are coming out in support of a 100% renewable energy transition. There is sufficient attention given to this the endeavour of transitioning in developed nations and major developing nations. However, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have historically lagged behind in proceeding with this transition even though they are arguably going to be the most severely affected by the inaction. Majority of SIDS energy comes from imported oil products. As we speak there are islands disappearing because of sea level rise. That said islands present an interesting geographical scope to analyse for an energy transition because of their unique challenges. These challenges stem from their isolated location and small size; which leads to high energy prices, lack of economy of scale and this is worsened by their potential vulnerability to environmental catastrophes. In recent years, however, there has been more attention given to SIDS and their issues. This is marked by Fiji being the President of COP23, and the COP23 paying special attention to SIDS. Following this recent surge in attention, many islands have set ambitious targets to pursue for the transition yet their execution has been bleak. It is astonishing that even though islands have the most renewable energy potential they have made limited progress, literature very widely states that the lack of economy of scale, technical knowledge and expertise, political will and lack of human capacity are leading causes and all of this leads to a larger risk perception leading to lack of investments. However the literature on islands transitioning is concentrated on either on a combination of technological, economical or societal issues and is geographically concentrated on the Pacific and Mediterranean islands.