Column Saskia Stender: Watt does it cost?

Smart construction, smart renovation, and energy management. These are current topics, both in the food industry and in my own home. I recently moved—not into a move-in-ready house, but into a real fixer-upper. The kind of place where I thought, “We’ll get this done in no time!” That was until I found myself holding a crowbar and wondering, “What have I gotten myself into?” I decided to turn a bedroom into a bathroom. That meant drilling holes all over the house. On top of that, the house is poorly insulated, and I cook on gas.

How much energy will I use over the course of a year? I have no idea! Every month, I check the meter readings with curiosity. It’s exciting. I’m facing countless big and small decisions that will largely determine both my costs and flexibility in the future. Solar panels or not? I think so, but with a home battery, because I want to be self-sufficient. Should I get off gas altogether or not?

While I’m insulating, painting, and renovating, I often think about the food industry. The same questions come up there. Do you invest in energy-saving measures now, or do you wait a little longer? Do you choose renovation, or is new construction the better option? Which investments will truly pay off in the long run?

Every project takes energy. Sometimes quite literally. Power tools plugged in, work lights switched on, and yet another trip to the hardware store. Strangely enough, it also gives me energy: I can see something taking shape. And that’s where there’s a nice parallel between private life and entrepreneurship: if you approach it smartly, your effort will ultimately generate far more than what you put into it.

Fortunately, my own energy still works without a plug.

Saskia Stender
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