ABSTRACT
The international development of BPE in practice has been complex and uneven, due to the individual histories, cultures, societies and environments that deeply inform practice in any given place. BPE methods and standards vary from country to country. International standards vary also. A further international BPE knowledge exchange project involved collaboration between two Brazilian academics. The aims are to make information about social housing available, identifying aspects to be improved in new projects undertaken by the private sector and government with the intent to amplify the quality of the built environment in question. A highly innovative development in housing is the Energiesprong retrofit programme, launched in the Netherlands in 2013 after significant consultation with inhabitants. The retrofit process provides an existing terraced home with external insulation and cladding, new doors and triple-glazed windows. An external 'intelligent' service module provides the all-electric heat, ventilation and power sources alongside a new solar PV renewable energy system.
