Jacob is Except's resident genius scientist. As an industrial ecologist, Jacob knows everything about energy and material flows, urban metabolism, impact and life cycle assessment, and the circular economy. As an engineer, Jacob has a particular love for building systems and sustainable building practices. Jacob always wants to know everything there is to know about a subject. When he was little, his favorite word was “why?”.

That condition never got better. He is fascinated by nature, architecture, and technology. He would like to get to know as much as there is to know about sustainability and translate that into concrete solutions for improving the world.

Jacob has a humanist’s understanding of social policy coupled with an engineers’ appreciation of practicality. In the last four years, he helped to increase the understanding of the interaction of office workers with their thermal environment, in his role as a researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Department of Building Physics and Services. Comfort through user involvement is essential to make buildings better and more sustainable. Technology is there to help people in making doing the right thing easier.

This practical side is also visible when Jacob designs and builds furniture. The best furniture is esthetically pleasing, is useful, and makes life easier. The additional advantage is that woodworking and building is a relaxing activity, and therefore it’s no surprise that a large portion of Jacob’s house is filled with his own creations.

Jacob has a Master’s degree in Industrial Ecology from Delft and Leiden Universities, and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University of Technology.