The Hague, 8 May 2025 – Deerns and TNO completed a study on sustainable energy supply tailored to the distinctly different needs of the retail and healthcare sectors. Commissioned by RVO and TKI Urban Energy this research contributes to business continuity for a future-proof economy.
How can healthcare buildings and shops drastically reduce their CO₂ emissions without disrupting their operations? The energy transition poses major challenges for property owners. In 2023, Deerns, together with TNO, conducted a broad study into sustainability opportunities in offices. The results served as a blueprint for innovation programmes and subsidies with which RVO and TKI Urban Energy support the sector. Due to its success, a follow-up study for retail and healthcare has now been launched.
Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all solution
The results of the study, presented in April 2025, form a valuable basis for new policy and subsidy schemes from RVO and TKI Urban Energy. For Deerns, this marks the next step in its ambition to bring sustainable innovations into practice more quickly.
This research shows that sustainability requires a sector-specific approach, in which the appropriate innovations and collaborations make all the difference.
Guus Mulder, Programme Manager for Accelerating Energy Renovations at TKI Urban Energy, notes:
" The results confirm that the healthcare and retail sectors have very different motivations for becoming more sustainable. If we want to take this challenge seriously, policymakers need to delve deeper into the subject matter. This report provides a solid basis for discussions with the key players
From insight to impact
Deerns investigated energy consumption, operating models and decision-making in the healthcare and retail sectors, focusing on the unique challenges of each sector. Whereas offices often have a centrally managed energy system, factors such as continuity of care and financial scope play a crucial role in the healthcare sector. In the retail sector, investments and payback periods largely determine the possibilities for sustainability.
By identifying these differences, innovation programmes can be developed and subsidies can be used in an even more targeted manner.
‘Innovation can break down barriers, enabling sustainable innovations to be put into practice more quickly,’ says Paul van Beem, project manager on behalf of Deerns. ’By working together with building owners, users, technology suppliers, knowledge partners and financiers, sector-specific solutions can be developed.’
Targeted approach for sector-specific challenges
An efficient and targeted approach was chosen for the follow-up study. The research team, consisting of healthcare and retail specialists from Deerns and TNO, first analysed the previous research results and tested them against the specific challenges in the retail and healthcare sectors. In brainstorming sessions with experts, barriers to innovation and innovation themes were identified, after which targeted one-on-one interviews provided further insight.
Deerns has been working on sector-specific approaches to sustainability challenges for some time. For example, the integration of smart and sustainable buildings is central to the Blue Hospitals approach.
