new amsterdam climate - covenant of mayors · introduction new amsterdam climate 4 1.1 municipal...

Summary of plans and ongoing projects

Met energie aan de slag

New Amsterdam

Climate

2

New Amsterdam Climate

Marijke VosAlderman Environment

Foreword

In recent years it has become urgently clear that we must find an answer to the climate problem. The city executive of Amsterdam – together with many other parties in our city – wants to face this challenge. We have committed ourselves to reducing our CO2 emissions by 40% in 2025 (compared to 1990).

We are duly aware that this is a major endeavour. But we are convinced that it also offers a multiplicity of opportunities, for innovation, for new employment, for other and better organisations and forms of behaviour. In short, it provides opportunities for a richer city in many ways. Based on this conviction, we have established the Amsterdam Climate Office and have given it the task of getting a movement started to utilise these opportunities and – simultaneously – to drastically reduce the CO2 emissions.

During the past year, the Municipality of Amsterdam has taken the initiative to knock on many doors, almost always with positive results. Often the door was already open, as you can read in this report. It provides an impressive picture of what is already possible and is already being done by many individuals and organisations in Amsterdam who have seen these opportunities, and want to take the lead in their development. We are standing at the beginning of a change that will continue for many years. Even now we can rightfully say that, together with you, we have an outlook on a New Amsterdam Climate!

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Table of Contents

Table oF ConTenTs

Introduction New Amsterdam Climate 4

1.1 Municipal organisation To start with, the Municipality itself 10

1.2 City Districts Parts of the solution 14

2 Sustainable energy New energy for Amsterdam 20

3.1 New construction The new approach to building 24

3.2 Existing buildings A city to be won 28

4.1 Small and mid-sized enterprises Business climate 32

4.2 ICT From data centre to playstation 36

5.1 Transport Alternatives on the Road 40

5.2 Port of Amsterdam Sustainable mooring 46

6 Education Learning environment for climate 50

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new amsterdam Climate

5

Introduction

Global warming is one of the greatest problems of this era. Actually, we should say it is one of the greatest tasks, because the solutions are known. Amsterdam is familiar with that task and also aims to start taking advantage of the opportunities it offers by becoming a leader.

If the emissions of greenhouse gases continue to grow unabated, the climate on our planet will exceed a criti-cal point within several decades. At that point, a more or less predictable and liveable climate for people, animals and plants will become a thing of the past, probably for centuries to come.

Where the solution concerns CO2 reduction, the route to a solution is known: energy savings, a drastic reduc-tion in the use of fossil fuels plus accelerated develop-ment and application of sustainable energy sources. Everywhere in the world, businesses, institutions, citizens and governments are tackling the enormous climate challenge. Amsterdam has a long tradition of pioneering energy and climate policy. As an interim step on the road to a low-carbon energy system, in 2007 the city executive set the goal of reducing the CO2 emissions within the city limits of Amsterdam by 40% in 2025 (compared to 1990). Revolution in thought and action In recent decades, the city has already done a great deal in the area of energy savings and the develop-ment of alternative energy sources. Nevertheless, the CO2 emissions of Amsterdam have increased signifi-cantly since 1990.

To transform a ‘slowed increase’ to a ‘drastic reduc-tion’, emissions must be reduced more quickly. This requires a revolution in thought and action At the pre-sent time, we are in the midst of this transition phase. Climate policy also concerns achieving a beneficial economic position on a changing playing field. If we do not take account of these changes – the rapid shifts in market shares in the automobile industry being an excellent example – then this can have serious conse-quences for our competitive positions.

Moreover, if nature compels us to reinvent our pro-duction and consumption processes, then this offers terrific opportunities for economic and social develop-

ment. This certainly applies to Amsterdam. Inspiration, sharing expertise, innovating, taking risks, showing leadership and taking responsibility: these are the keys to success. A huge number of technologies and mea-sures can already be applied immediately. And we are going to invent the rest.In concrete terms, this means for example that buil-dings and technical installations will be modified or designed differently; that the transport sector will re-new itself; and that we will see rapid developments in small-scale and large-scale sustainable energy supply.

This will create additional employment in traditional and innovative sectors and will put Amsterdam on the map as a location for sustainable and innovative busi-nesses. The expectation is that the prices of fossil fuels will continue to rise. Therefore, reducing local demand while simultaneously developing alternative sources becomes more and more attractive financially.

Together in a leading groupObviously, the transition can only be achieved if all parties in Amsterdam cooperate. The Municipality of Amsterdam has taken the initiative to establish a framework of cooperation for climate. To this end, we have approached many businesses, institutions and citizen groups since the summer of 2007. During the climate conference of 11 December 2007, there was an excellent response, which has grown even further since then.

The formal framework of cooperation is now a fact. Its name: New Amsterdam Climate. To provide the neces-sary support, a bureau has been established specifically for this purpose: the Amsterdam Climate Office. New Amsterdam Climate is made up of citizens, businesses and institutions who understand the necessity of taking measures, who see the opportunities created by these measures, who take a leading role with their climate policy and who can serve as an example for others. In this way, New Amsterdam Climate ultimately aims to

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Finger on the pulseEvery year, the City of Amsterdam will monitor the current situation by determining how much CO2 the city has emitted. It will also collect as much information as possible about the CO2 emissions that have been avoided due to the various measures. To this end, a model is being constructed that will be supplied with information about energy use in the following sectors: built environment, traffic and transport, businesses and the city organisation itself. According to expectations, the annual CO2 report for 2007 will be presented at the end of 2008.

create a snowball effect in as many levels of the city as possible.

New Amsterdam Climate is a platform where parties can: find partners for cooperation; inspire and motivate each other; share knowledge; detect and remove obstacles; map out resolutions, actions and results; and present annual CO2 reports.

New Amsterdam Climate also wants to establish a Cli-mate Fund to provide financial incentives for promising initiatives in the areas of energy savings and sustaina-ble energy.

Who is not participating?The government is in the position of enforcing laws that are only partly or reluctantly complied with.But this process is distant from the leading group of parties who, based on shared insight and a collective goal, want to accomplish more than is required by law and want to take advantage of opportunities. Regar-ding the parties in the area between these two extre-mes, New Amsterdam Climate hopes to use its activi-ties to draw these parties towards the leading group.

Progress reportsThe Climate Office will periodically report on the most

important developments in the framework of coope-ration of New Amsterdam Climate, beginning with the present edition. This report addresses a number of areas for which CO2 reduction programmes are planned or are being implemented. In addition to the area of the municipal organisation, where the City of Amsterdam takes an especially critical look at itself, these include areas where the city and many important players work together to achieve major reductions by collectively accelerating the process.

This report is structured according to these areas: City organisation Sustainable energy Housing; with a distinction between existing

housing and new construction The business community, with attention for small

and midsize enterprises and the ICT sector, respec-tively

Transport and the Port of Amsterdam Education

This first report contains a snapshot of the situation in the fall of 2008. For all areas, this concerns especi-ally the first steps, more or less, that are being taken as part of relatively new frameworks of cooperation. Therefore this report also looks many years into the future – rather lightly under the heading ‘Back from the future’ – towards the situation and energy experience in 2025.

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Introduction

building blocks for reductionTaking account of the societal concern about the climate problem, the municipality has formulated the ambition to achieve a 40% CO2 emission reduction in the year 2025 for the entire city (compared to the level in 1990). In addition, the municipality itself aims to set a good example by operating in a CO2-

neutral fashion by 2015. The municipality has of course also considered the question of whether these ambitions are feasible. At the end of 2007, the report ‘Building blocks for the Amsterdam CO2 reduction programme’ was published. By extrapolating current developments, this report first determined what the emission level in 2025 would be without additional policy. It then addressed the question of which measures are available to reduce the CO2 emission level. This answer was partly worked out in order to serve as a basis for a programme of measures. The report also contains a proposal to measure the progress in reducing emissions.

Prevent and adaptNew Amsterdam Climate has the goal of greatly reducing CO2 emissions and limiting global warming. We are restricting our activities to prevention. Regardless of how successful the prevention measures everywhere in the world may be, it is now clear that the climate will change and that Amsterdam must also prepare for these changes by developing and implementing policies concerning water storage, hot weather, etc.

In another context, Amsterdam is working hard on these policies.

Periodic reporting of the most important developments in New Amsterdam Climate, beginning with this addition

For that matter, we have roughly calculated what the savings will be if we succeed in continuing the establis-hed strategies through the years. According to these calculations, we will achieve approximately two-thirds of the necessary reduction. For the remaining savings, we can count on a new generation of innovations, new national and European legislation, reductions in areas that have not yet been mapped out and – possibly – underground CO2 storage (sequestration).

Much more information is available at www.nieuwamsterdamsklimaat.nl

To be continuedIn addition to the efforts described in this report, there are countless initiatives in the city that contribute to the reduction aims. In subsequent editions, from the viewpoint of New Amsterdam Climate we hope to provide an increasingly complete picture of all parties who are working on a cleaner Amsterdam.

This framework of cooperation aims to act as a magnet and a podium for positive energy. To all those who are not yet in the starting blocks: we have made the chal-lenge, who will accept it?

Municipal initiative to establish this frame-work of cooperation

Communication about new amsterdam ClimateCommunication is essential to everything that is hap-pening as part of the New Amsterdam Climate. Am-sterdam has chosen a focused strategy, where believa-bility and realism are paramount. This means suppor-ting deeds with words. We can do this by making the general public more familiar with the developments

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CO2 emissions (kt) per sector

7000

5000

3000

1000

1990 2006 2025 Ambition 2025

-40% -50% -60%

Traffic and transport

Businesses

Household

and getting them involved, for example by means of the Climate Table, Climate Cafés and theatre, and edu-cation for schools.

Or by placing Amsterdam on the map – regionally, nationally and internationally – as an innovative force.

Climate communication will take the form of a carrier wave with peaks: an undercurrent of messages, sup-plemented with peak moments such as publicity cam-paigns and larger events that are linked to the various climate themes.

Besides developing strategic press contacts, we will deploy Amsterdam “icons” as deliberate role models to get Amsterdam residents involved with the New Amsterdam Climate. There are also many online pos-sibilities such as the digital Climate Journal that is sent monthly to subscribers; or a digital map of Amsterdam, which shows exactly who is doing what in terms of CO2 reduction and sustainability. And there is an extensive site – a supplement to this report – which contains a great deal of information: www.nieuwamsterdamsklimaat.nl

amsterdam Climate FundA 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025 is a major challenge.This requires major investments in both the adaptation of existing technologies and the innovation of new ones. Many of these investments will pay for themselves, certainly if energy prices continue to rise. However, start-up capital and venture capital will remain necessary. Financial institutions want to help find solutions and will accept their responsibility within the usual limits of risk and profitability. This will not always be enough. New Amsterdam Climate therefore wants to establish a Climate Fund. This fund can offer financial support to highly promising initiatives in energy savings and sustainable energy by means of subordinated loans or surety bonds.

In addition to start-up capital from the City of Amsterdam, this fund (which is partly revolving) could possibly be supplemented if participants in the climate programme invest their carbon offsets in the fund.

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Introduction

Prognosis of CO2 emissions in 2025, reduction task and CO2 reduction due to climate programme (kt)

Total CO2 emissions avoided in climate programme

Remaining reduction task

Remaining CO2 emissions

2500

Potential share of climate programme in reduction task (kt)

1565

858

206

2655

142

635

27142

Sustainable energy production

Existing housing association inventory

New construction

Education

ICT sector

Small and mid-sized enterprises

Traffic and transport

Municipal organisation

Remaining reduction task

2235

1565

10

To start with, the Municipality itself

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Blaming each other

Residents“We want more energy efficient houses, but there is so little on the market”

Builders“We can build envi-ronmentally-sound houses, but the project developers do not ask for this”

Investors“We do want to pay for sustainable and efficient buildings, but there is no de-mand for this”

Project developers“We prefer sustaina-ble buildings, but in-vestors do not want to pay for this”

In 2015, the City of Amsterdam wants to be climate neutral. This means that buildings, public lighting and the municipal transport facilities must consume less energy and must make as much use as possible of sustainable energy.For functions where fossil fuels are still unavoidable, possibilities for carbon set-offs will be investigated.

MuniCiPal buildingsTo implement its tasks, the Municipality of Amsterdam uses hundreds of buildings. The municipality owns some of these buildings and rents others. In addition, the municipality is also a landlord. The buildings have many different functions. For example, the buildings can be used as offices, gyms and harbour facilities. They also differ in terms of their structural condition, the condition of the technical installations and therefore in their CO2 emissions.

Planning Brief emphasises CO2 neutrality

new construction for the Municipality of amsterdamIn recent years, the municipality has made large investments in energy-efficient buildings. Much of the new construction is more energy-efficient than required by law. Nevertheless, no single building is emission-free.

The task is now to design buildings with the highest possible energy-efficiency, but which no longer use natural gas for space heating. Although the municipal power supply is already ‘green’, in the foreseeable future there will certainly not be an abundance of green energy, so it is important to keep the electricity demand as low as possible. With existing technology, a great deal of electricity can already be saved. And with increasing energy prices, energy-saving measures pay for themselves more and more quickly. A precondition for successful application of such measures is that CO2 neutrality is emphasised in the Planning Brief from the very beginning.

Renovation of the municipality’s own buildingsIt is often impossible to renovate existing buildings at an acceptable cost so that they become CO2 neutral.

This does not take away from the fact that using existing technologies in older buildings can achieve major reductions.

Municipality seeks different landlord if insufficient investments are made in energy efficiency during renovation

Making demands as a tenant The municipality owns only some of the buildings that uses. The municipality decides to rent buildings depending on the preparedness of the landlord to invest in the energy efficiency of the building during renovation. If the landlord is not sufficiently prepared to make such an investment, the municipality will look for an alternative and will cancel the rental contract. As a result, Amsterdam signals landlords that sustainable buildings are the new standard.

For that matter, the municipality is also subject to the same standard when it rents out buildings.

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green lightIn recent years, much attention has focused on ener-gy savings at the City Hall and Het Muziektheater.For example, the building was given aquifer thermal storage, a heat recovery system and an ingenious building management system that provides smart control for all technical installations. Among other things, the building management system prevents the heating and air conditioning from being on at the same time. In 2007 the entire City Hall was equi-pped with energy-efficient lamps (45% energy sa-vings compared to the old situation), a project which earned the European Green Light Award in 2008. With the aim of achieving complete climate neutra-lity, the City Hall/Muziektheater works with an an-nual CO2 budget. This budget makes the remaining CO2 emissions clear and indicates what is required to become completely CO2 neutral. After the neces-sary steps are taken, in 2009 the Stopera will be able to justifiably say that it is climate neutral.

energy TeamAn Energy Team for municipal buildings is being established. This team will advise and assist the neighbourhoods and the central services during both new construction and renovation. The team will help map out what is required for all municipal buildings to earn an ‘A label’ for energy efficiency.

The team also calculates how much CO2 emission remains if all measures with a 10-year payback period are used. For each of the neighbourhoods and central services, this forms the basis for an action plan. The logical occasions to apply the new climate-neutral standard are during maintenance activities (minor and major), when moving to a new building and when designing new construction.The administrators of the city and the neighbour-hoods, the heads of the central services and the secretaries of the City Districts have committed themselves to this process. The municipal buildings Energy Team takes the role of advisor and motivator.

In a short time, an enormous amount of expertise will be acquired, shared and applied. Between 2011 and

2015, the municipality will make all buildings that it owns or rents climate neutral by using the experience and routines that it has developed in the meantime. This will take place as buildings are scheduled for maintenance or new construction. Sports accommodations and other municipal buildings will then be subjected to the new norms. The first climate-neutral City District offices will be delivered.

PubliC lighTingPublic lighting provides safety and atmosphere in the city.By using intelligent light measuring and more efficient lamps and materials, a great deal of energy can be saved. In concrete terms, the municipality sees the following as the most important possibilities: For new installations and replacements, the

municipality is choosing the most energy-efficient lamps and the most effective armatures. This means, among other things, replacing older lamps with newer types that do not require warm up time (or lamps of a future generation that are even more efficient ) and switching entirely to electronic components (savings potential: nearly 8% energy savings and a longer lifespan for the lamps).

Technology, precision control, dimming lights when and where this is feasible...a great deal is possible!

Continue to be critical of the light measurement system that – depending on the degree of darkness – turns on the public lighting.

Responsible public lighting will continue to be the motto, but the lamps do not have to burn longer than is strictly necessary. A recent refinement of the measurement system resulted in energy savings of 1.5%.

Due to the geographical location and urban design of Amsterdam-Noord, it is possible to turn on the public lighting somewhat later in this section of the city, and to turn it off somewhat sooner. Additional differentiation in other parts of the city (WestelijkeTuinsteden, Amsterdam Zuidoost) is being investigated.

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back from the futureThe team that maintains the Amsterdam street lighting usually moves around the city on humming electric scooters. Tower wagons are needed much less often now that all streetlights are equipped with LEDs. They virtually never need replacement. After years of renovation, the municipal buildings are among the most energy-efficient in the world. The buildings even supply some of their own energy. The new City District offices are so cleverly designed that colleagues from abroad visit the offices to see how they’ve done it.

led lightingPartly on the initiative of Philips, a study was con-ducted this year into which additional technological possibilities for energy savings are available, what the effect of these would be and what accelerated invest-ments these technologies require. For example, LED streetlights developed by Philips were tested at the City Hall/Muziektheater. One of the objectives was to enable Amsterdam residents to become acquainted with this new lighting technology. LED streetlights can provide energy savings of up to 51%.

2006 2015

kt/y

ear

50

40

30

20

10

0

municipal vehicle fleet

buildings

total

CO2-emissions by the Municipal Organisation

Beginning in 2008, experiments will take place with dimming public lighting for energy savings and to reduce possible light nuisance and light pollution. For example, it is unnecessary to have public lighting at ‘full power’ with low traffic intensities and clear weather conditions. This type of light dimming on thoroughfares can provide an energy savings of 7.5%.

MuniCiPal VehiCle FleeT The municipal vehicle fleet has approximately 2000 vehicles. And all those lawnmowers, passenger cars, vans, sweeping machines and garbage trucks do not drive themselves.

The Mayor & College of Aldermen have decided to only purchase passenger cars with and A or B energy label …

energy-efficient vehiclesIn 2007, the Mayor & College of Aldermen decided to only purchase passenger cars with an A or B energy label. A car with an ‘A label’ emits at least 20% less CO2 than average; with a ‘B label’ this is 10 to 20% less. This resolution of Mayor & College of Aldermen is an order to the central services and an urgent request to the City Districts.

In addition, a funding scheme from the Air Quality Programme Bureau will accelerate the replacement of polluting vehicles with clean vehicles.

…or perhaps they will switch to electric scooters

a two-wheel alternativeElectric scooters are potentially a good alternative for cars on short trips with little baggage. Compared with four-wheel transport, they use little energy. Moreover, they create less pollution and noise nuisance in the city and they take up less space. A test is being conducted to determine if the scooters are user friendly, reliable and safe, and if the breakdown service for these vehicles can also be properly arranged. If this pilot project succeeds, a fleet of electric scooters may be purchased.

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Parts of the solution

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step2saveStep2Save is a cooperative project involving Nuon, the Municipality of Amsterdam, eleven City Districts and the Far West and Ymere housing associations. Step2Save aims for CO2 reduction, lower energy bills for tenants and trains unemployed young people to become energy advisers. Objectives: a CO2 reduction of approximately 200 kg per household per year and annual savings of €70 on energy costs. Of the 10,000 targeted households in the subsidised rental sector, 5,000 were successfully approached by the end of May. The project will continue until October 2008.

energy survivalThis year Project Bureau ARC, on behalf of the Net-herlands Climate Union (Klimaatverbond Nederland) is again holding the Energy Survival programme in Amsterdam. In this programme, children learn about the importance of energy savings and sustainable energy during an exciting and educational discovery expedition. The young people emphatically take com-mand to learn more about sustainable energy use. The programme comprises reading materials, an Energy Survival day and the TV show Energy Survival. In 2007, seven groups from Amsterdam primary schools took part. The Watergraafsmeerse School Association ulti-mately won the Energy Survival day.

online monitoringThis year the ‘Online monitoring of municipal buil-dings’ will be expanded to all locations. This initiative of ARC gives the building manager insight at all times into the energy use of the building. For example, this makes it clear if the technical installations are properly adjusted, if weekends and holidays have been taken into account or if there are undesired peaks in energy use. New instruments in the programme include re-mote energy management, comparing the energy use of buildings and monitoring energy billing. Online monitoring is an important precondition for active energy management and can lead to energy savings of 5 to 10%. At present, more than 100 municipal offices, schools, sport complexes and municipal services are taking part in online monitoring.

Climate CafésIn 2008, fifteen Climate Cafés will be held by WISE on behalf of the Amsterdam City Districts. This is a simple but very effective concept to reach new target groups. In a pub or coffee house, a discussion about climate topics is held while the participants enjoy a drink.The attendees become involved with the theme by means of an exciting climate quiz, among other methods. The substantive climate discus-sion is alternated with music and/or comedy.

solar power on your roof is easy In the summer of 2007, Project Bureau ARC, toge-ther with the province of North Holland and Bes-seling Installatie/Kapitein, conducted the ‘Zon op je dak’ campaign for the City Districts of Amster-dam. The aim of the campaign was to promote solar energy systems among the owners/residents in the city Private owners could obtain a subsidy on the purchase of a solar energy system. Due to the campaign, 152 photovoltaic systems and 20 solar boilers were installed. The CO2 reduction amounts to 49,000 kg per year During the lifespan of the solar energy systems, this will amount to approximately 1000 tonnes of CO2

City Districts

A better climate is not a project that can be ‘quickly arranged’ from City Hall.Like-minded partners with shared objectives create the basis for success. The City Districts play an important role in this process. The following is a selection from a number of appealing neighbourhood projects.

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osdoRPheat pump at the airport business parkThe Airport Business park Amsterdam-Osdorp (formerly Lutkemeer) aims to reduce its energy consumption by 40% and to generate 10% of the required energy sustainably.

To this end, the business park is using a groundwater system with decentral heat pumps and is taking advantage of a subsidy scheme to realise 10,000 m² of solar panels. Companies at the business park are required to connect to the system. Natural gas lines will not be installed – therefore no alternative is available.

Airport Business park Amsterdam-Osdorp (formerly Lutkemeer) is a joint development of the Osdorp City District and the Schiphol Area Development Company

GEUZENVELD-SLOTERMEERsustainable energy in urban renewalThe Institute for Environmental Studies of VU University, the General Housing Association (Algemene Woningbouwvereniging) and the Geuzenveld-Slotermeer City District are jointly pursuing a broadly supported package of CO2-reducing measures that will be used during renovation projects.

Residents, project managers of City Districts and housing associations are working together in a dialogue and workshop programme which emphasises the importance and feasibility of CO2-reducing measures and provides technologies with which the reduction will be achieved. The aim is to develop a method with which the project leaders can get started in concrete terms.

minder dan 20%

20% – < 25%

buiten beschouwing

Amsterdam: 24,5%

25% – < 29%

29% – < 33%

CenTRuMair curtainsFor busy shops, open doors are more the rule than the exception. Usually the inside temperature is maintained by using a warm air curtain at the entrance. This is very costly for the business and is not very good for the environment. The City District Centrum wants to help the shops and the environment by talking with them about replacing the warm air curtains with alternatives that are at least 50% more energy efficient.

For this purpose, a pilot study has been planned where selected shops will use an energy-efficient air curtain.As part of the pilot study, special attention will be paid to the effect of the environmentally friendly

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City Districts

nooRdeuropean demonstration projectNoord Is working on the sustainable renovation project ‘Plan van Gool’. As part of this project, 1,170 houses will be renovated in a sustainable fashion. This will be done, among other ways, by greatly improving the insulation of the

sloTeRVaaRTsustainable renovationIn 2006 and 2007, the Far West housing association implemented an environmentally friendly housing renovation project involving a building complex with 192 units (blocks of flats with shared entrance halls and regular flats) on the Piet Mondriaanstraat and surrounding area. Far West commissioned a study to determine which environmental measures would be most effective and also took affordability into account.

The resulted in an ambitious package of renovation measures.

n new draft-window free frames, with integrated ventilation;

n the most energy-efficient window glass (HR++);n new well-insulated façades;n sloped roofs insulated from inside;n insulation for ceilings of ground floor storage

areas;n new high-efficiency boilers (HR-107);n shower cubicles with wastewater heat recovery;n 500 m² of solar cells on the roofs (with funding

from the province); n recycled brick. The sustainable renovation of an

adjacent housing complex is in preparation.

minder dan 20%

20% – < 25%

buiten beschouwing

Amsterdam: 24,5%

25% – < 29%

29% – < 33%

alternative on the accessibility of the shop, which is an essential aspect for the business. Depending on the results, a plan to apply this sustainable solution on a larger scale will be developed. Nine other City Districts have also joined this project.

Partners: DA chemists, Besam, DMB, fire department, Association of Midsize and Small Businesses, Centrale Stad, Chamber of Commerce, Centrum and nine other City Districts.

outer shell of the buildings and by switching from a collective heating system using gas-fired boilers to 2000 m² of solar collectors.

The City District Amsterdam-Noord is a partner in this European demonstration project. It is an excellent example of energy savings and the use of sustainable energy in existing buildings.

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ZuidoosTenergy savings for primary schoolsTogether with the province of North Holland, the Environmental & Building Department and the school administrations Sirius and Bijzonderwijs, City District Zuidoost has developed an energy savings campaign for 24 primary schools. Schools with a high energy consumption were required to participate in the energy study.

The schools were given a 1,000 subsidy and assistance in implementing the very practically oriented advice.

bos en loMMeRlaan van spartaanWhere football fields were once located, in several years 1000 new housing units will be built, including sports accommodations, a parking garage and social facilities. All houses will be connected to district heating provided by the Waste Energy Company (Afval Energie Bedrijf). This will achieve a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels and prevent the emission of 1,100 kg of CO2 per house per year.

Cooperating partners: Bouwfonds, Ymere and Bos en Lommer City District

minder dan 20%

20% – < 25%

buiten beschouwing

Amsterdam: 24,5%

25% – < 29%

29% – < 33%

ZuideRaMsTelsustainable City district officeThis year, the new City District office for Zuideramstel will be completed. The building complex also contains housing units and a parking garage. The project location is the Kop Rivierenbuurt and is part of the Zuidas. Regarding energy and sustainability, a number of measures have been taken that have led among other things to the Energy Performance Coefficient being 33% better than the legal requirement. These measures include:n Green roof system that serves as a buffer

during heavy rainfall and provides extra insulation.

n Underground thermal storage. This reduces the CO2 emissions by more than 60%

n Application of all fixed measures and more than 30% of the variable measures from the National Sustainable Building Scheme.

n The architectonic design of the building shell is flexible and adaptable so that the building can grow along with changes in the future.

n Use of sustainably produced hardwood and softwood.

n Avoiding materials that contaminate the rainwater.

Partners: Zuideramstel City District, Dura Vermeer Real Estate, Rochdale/Delta Forte, Claus and Kaan architects, OTH interior architects, Zonneveld engineering bureau.

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City Districts

ZeebuRgTurby-windmillsSince the first of July 2007, a Turby windmill has been proudly turning on the Flevohuis. The machine stands 12 m high and supplies enough electricity for two households. The installation of the wind turbine is a co-production involving the City District and the Ymere housing association. Each party paid half of the €20,000 cost. As the owner of the Flevohuis, Ymere manages the wind turbine. City District Zeeburg was responsible for the planning and the environmental-legal issues involved with the installation.

oosT-WaTeRgRaaFsMeeRCity district officeOost-Watergraafsmeer is building a new City District complex in the Polderweggebied which will also house the Centre for Visual Arts, Entrepreneurs Centre Oost-Watergraafsmeer and de Kraal school.The building will be completed this year.

Environmental measures:n thermal storage (for the entire area) and heat

pump;n concrete core activation (low temperature);n high insulating value for the façade, floor and

roof;n additional sealing of cracks against infiltration;n boiler optimisation;n speed regulation of fans and pumps;n high-frequency lighting;n presence detection;n heat recovery ventilation.

As a result of the above measures, the Energy Performance Coefficient (EPC) is 50% better than required in the National Building Regulations decree.This performance can be improved even further if wind turbines and solar cells can be installed on the roof (currently under study).

minder dan 20%

20% – < 25%

buiten beschouwing

Amsterdam: 24,5%

25% – < 29%

29% – < 33%

Following the completion of the project, the school administrations continued with energy management on a no cure, no pay basis. In this way, saving energy becomes anchored in the organisation.

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new energy for amsterdam

21

Sustainable energy

sea windOffshore wind turbine parks have become a serious business. In Denmark, sea wind is already providing 20% of the national energy requirements. England and Germany are also harvesting sea wind. In the Netherlands, a permit request for wind turbine parks on the North Sea is currently being evaluated. Near IJmuiden, the windpark Amalia (Q7) has been taken into use by Eneco.

The climate issue, the dependence on fossil fuel im-ports, the available and economic opportunities during the transition to other energy sources....This is why Amsterdam has decided how much sustai-nable energy will be generated within the municipality in 2025. This amounts to 20% of the energy requi-rements of Amsterdam in 2025, if policy does not change. If there is a climate policy that results in redu-ced energy demand, the share of sustainable energy could be as high as 30%. This is a very high percentage in view of the limited availability of space in a city like Amsterdam.

This potential can become reality by upscaling the technologies that are already being used in Amster-dam.n solar energy from solar panels, thin-film PV, solar

boilers and solar-oriented buildingsn wind energy from different types of wind turbinesn water for coolingn energy from biomass: wasten thermal storage and district heating

solar energyAccording to the latest insights, after 2016 the price per kWh for solar energy will be equal to the price paid by a private party for electricity from the grid. Profita-ble exploitation of solar energy is on the horizon. To achieve this, two preconditions must always be satis-fied.

First, there must be sufficient space to install solar panels, solar boilers or thin-film PV. In Amsterdam, this is no problem whatsoever: businesses, houses, offices (municipal and private) and schools have several million m² of roof area. There are parties who want to make their roofs available without having the ambition of investing in and managing the solar systems.

Take 0.01% of the astonishing quantity of sustainable energy in the form of wa-ter power, wind energy or solar radiation that flows unused every day through the oceans, rivers and atmosphere. This is enough to supply the entire global economy with energy. To bring the discussion somewhat closer to home, waste is also an excellent source of energy, and is partly a source of renewable energy! It is time for Amsterdam to use this source of energy.

A second precondition is therefore that there are parties who install, maintain and manage the solar installations on a contract basis, and sell the generated energy to a power company. New Amsterdam Climate sees possibilities in the roof area of Amsterdam being used by solar power companies.

At the national level as well, preparations are taking place for the large-scale rollout of solar photovoltaic systems in the built environment. Therefore New Am-sterdam Climate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, financiers and the energy sector, wants to develop a concept that can be put on the market in the foreseeable future.

Possibilities to make the roof area of Am-sterdam available to solar power compa-nies for commercial exploitation

Wind energyNew wind turbines could be installed at various loca-tions in the city. The available space in Amsterdam for large wind turbines is limited, but the new wind loca-tion map (see page 48) shows the potential and the possibilities for initiatives. Installing small wind turbines on roofs is an option that requires further study.This year (2008) Amsterdam will present its vision on

22


this possibility. The lack of space within Amsterdam can be compensated by participating in wind parks on the North Sea. Amsterdam is taking this option into serious consideration.

biomassAmsterdam is already using biomass from municipal waste and sewage sludge to generate sustainable heat and electricity. The trams and the metro, for example, operate on this electricity. The electricity generation takes place at the Waste and Energy Company (AEB), where slightly more than half of the incinerated waste from non-fossil origin can be considered to be bio-mass.

By expanding the district heating network of AEB and connecting more houses and businesses to this network, even more benefits can be obtained from biomass (see thermal storage). Increasing the sales of residual heat is currently being studied. For example the heat could be purchased by Ecoport, a sustainable business park that will be realised in phases. In ad-dition, with the hypermodern High-efficiency Power-plant, the generation capacity and energy efficiency of AEB will increase. At present, the biomass incineration of AEB is good for a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 350 kt per year, and this will rise to no less than 550 kt per year! Another possibility worth noting is the combustion (or gassification) of grown biomass, either imported or produced domestically. This approach could, for example, increase the share of biomass in large-scale energy production. However, we are still at the beginning of this development, which is subject to criticism. Food supplies and biodiversity must certainly not suffer in order to produce biomass.

Another direction in energy production from biomass has been given attention in a study taking place at the Sciencepark, where Waternet is working with Aqua-phyto to explore the possibilities of producing algae in-house.

Waste & Energy Company is already a lar-ge producer of sustainable energy, and this will only increase in the future!

heat and coldFor supplying heat and cold, technologies are available at the household, building complex or district level. At the level of individual households, the solar boiler is one possibility. At the project level, at dozens of locations in Amsterdam companies are using a thermal storage installation for heating and cooling. This is an efficient technology which has been accepted by the market and will continue to grow significantly. At the district level, Amsterdam has a growing district heating grid. Ultimately this grid will form a ring with an Amsterdam. To achieve this, it is essential that the new locations of Buiksloterham and Zeeburgereiland are connect to the district heating grid.

For project developers, thermal storage is often more interesting in financial terms than connecting to district heating. In order to find a good balance, the municipality will have to start directing this process. To this end, a theme been established for the programme managers in the spatial planning sector.

Sustainability is just as important with the delivery of cold as it is with the delivery of heat. However it is more difficult to realise this on a large scale, because deep water (in this case the source of cold) is not always available. The Zuidas and the Zuidoostlob are using a cold grid that is fed with deep water from the Nieuwe Meer and the Ouderkerkerplas. Waternet and NUON are working closely together on this project. For Teleport, a study is being conducted about the feasibility of a cold grid that will use AEB heat for absorption cooling.

More and more ‘green’ electricity In Amsterdam, 37% of the households are already using ‘ green’ electricity (from sustainable sources). This is slightly more than the national average of 33% (source: Milieucentraal). An interesting aspect is the growth during the past two years, especially among young people. The 40 to 60 age group is lagging behind. In 2009 a major campaign is launched in cooperation with energy suppliers to encourage private parties as well as companies to switch to green electricity.

23

Sustainable energy

0 to 1

1 to 10

10 to 50

50 or more

Avoided CO2 emissions in 2025

due to sustainable heat and cold infrastructure, (in kg/m2 GFO)

Avoided CO2 emissions due to Sustainable Energy

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

kt/y

ear

2006 2025

district heating and thermal storage

BiomassWind

Solar

total

Process & PartnersTo greatly increase the production of sustainable energy, cooperation is essential. This is why the Cli-mate Office and the parties that can make this pos-sible are coming into contact with each other.The partners in this endeavour include not only energy companies, but also businesses that offer sustainable energy products. Cooperation also me-ans joint pilot projects and experimental projects to learn about the obstacles and bottlenecks that we will encounter along the way. A good example is the cooperation with City District Noord. This City District wants to take an integrated approach to the local upscaling of wind energy, in close cooperation with the residents, by supporting a citizen initiative in this area.This project is based on a Master Plan, which can also be used in potential frameworks of cooperation involving the Climate Office and other City Districts. Cooperation also means that the Climate Office and the market join together to look for suitable locati-ons for test facilities for various types of small wind turbines. For businesses, this support can enormous-ly accelerate the step to the professional market. To find suitable roofs for installing solar panels, a similar process takes place, but then in cooperation with housing associations and energy companies.The perspective for all implementation projects is a clear growth potential until 2025, a target date that Amsterdam has set for itself. The Climate Office is the ideal party for facilitating contact between other parties, for example by means of conferences.

In this way, expertise can be shared and initiatives can be transformed into frameworks of cooperation for implementing projects. In this role, the munici-pality listens carefully in order to pick up possible signals about obstacles and bottlenecks that it might be able to influence directly, for example by means of municipal regulations and enforcement.

Partners: housing associations, City Districts, AEB, Port of Amsterdam, Waternet, Nuon, Greenchoice, Eneco, Windvogel, Mijn CO

2 Spoor, Meewind, CE Delft, Enerquest

24

The new approach to building

25

What is climate neutral?A climate-neutral house does not use any fossil fuels for heating; it also uses several installed facilities to generate green electricity and to limit electricity consumption.

Influencing the remaining, behaviour-linked energy consumption is outside the reach of the builders. This aspect is up to the residents. To the extent that they do not generate green electricity themselves, it is possible to purchase green electricity and in this way to live in an entirely climate neutral fashion.

New construction

Nevertheless, this step-by-step increase has a major disadvantage because builders try to satisfy the norms by installing more and more apparatus and equipment in the house. By taking this path, we encounter limits: structural complications and higher costs. A growing group of market parties has indicated that there is a much more direct way to advance to very energy-efficient new construction. Amsterdam is giving these parties room to act and is thereby setting course to a new standard: climate-neutral construction. These houses will be more expensive than standard new construction, but this additional price is compensated by lower energy costs. On balance, these houses will actually be cheaper. Therefore, the municipality does not see any necessity to compensate the extra costs by reducing the land price (and thereby reducing the municipal income).

The entire process of land allocation, de-velopment and construction will be based on this new standard.

Beginning in 2010, Amsterdam will build 32,000 hou-sing units at the major locations. In 2010, four out of ten newly built houses will be climate neutral. in 2015, this will apply to all new houses. Although the annual

In recent years, the energy performance norm for newly built houses has been increased step-by-step. By the year 2020, the national government wants to achieve ‘zero energy’ houses. This method has been effective: today, a newly built house uses 70% less gas for heating than the average existing house.

expansion of the housing inventory is relatively limi-ted, the cumulative effects are still significant. Accor-ding to the energy savings rate stipulated by the na-tional government, natural gas consumption will incre-ase by almost 4.5%, and in new housing the gas meter will continue to turn at this rate for the long lifespan of the buildings! With the accelerated savings proposed by Amsterdam, the increase in gas consumption would be cut in half and electricity consumption would de-cline by 30%.

The new standard for climate-neutral construction will also apply to new construction for offices and businesses.

initiativesn At the Zuidas location, ABN-Amro, together

with other parties, developed the Dutch Green Building Council. This concept makes it possible to achieve a better sustainability score than is prescribed in the legislation.

n A group of eight market parties is working on a proposal to make the Buiksloterham development district as climate neutral as possible. In this context, the Noordwaarts Administrative Consultation Committee has decided that the project will be awarded to the developer with the most sustainable plan, and not necessarily to the developer with the lowest price. To compare the plans with each other, a ‘sustainability meter’ is being used. The first experience with this approach is being acquired in the Buiksloterham. The intention is for many more projects in Amsterdam Noord and other parts of the city to start using this method .

n In the Spaarndammerbuurt, the De Key housing association is starting to build climate-neutral houses and is bringing existing houses to that level during renovation.

26


back from the futureOn 1 January 2025, Thomas and Samira receive the key to their new house. The heating and cooling is done with groundwater. The house has its own wind turbine to operate the household apparatus, and solar collectors provide warm water.The energy that they do not need will be supplied back to the grid. When they close the door and turn the key, all the household apparatus turns off, except for the refrigerator. Is this a remarkable house? Not in 2025.

Avoided CO2 emissions due to Climate-neutral New Construction

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

kt/y

ear

2006 2025

new approachIt won’t happen by itself! The entire process of land allocation, development and construction must be based on the new standard. During the development of areas, an energy strategy must be formulated at the earliest stage, which indicates what the best measures are.

Such measures could include a district heating grid, district cold grid, thermal storage and sustainable energy generation. In addition, during the design of buildings it is important to make beneficial choices regarding the orientation of houses, insulation, sustai-nable energy and installations. This demands a great deal, not only from the municipal spatial planning of-fice and the municipal development corporation, but also from developers, contractors and subcontractors.

This new approach to building has consequences for selecting (or preselecting) parties and for awarding projects.

In the future, the parties want to find joint solutions for the problems that they encounter on the path to climate-neutral construction. To this end, a Leading Group for New Construction will be established later this year.

27

New construction

28

a city to be won

29

Existing buildings

In 2006, 34% of the total emissions of CO2 in Amsterdam were caused by household use of electri-city, gas and heat. However, a decline of more than 1% per year can be seen in the average household gas consumption. This reduction is due to the efforts of the housing associations, which have been investing for many years in better insulation and high efficiency boilers, and the much better energy performance of newly built houses.

However, this effect has been counteracted by an in-crease in the number of housing units and especially by an increase in electricity consumption of 2% annu-ally. In this way, unchanged policy is leading to an in-crease in the share of household energy consumption to 36%.

Working together to change the trend

CooperationAll parties who have the ambition to accelerate and expand energy savings in existing housing can change this trend by working together. Home owners play an important role in this process because they can work directly on the energy quality of their houses by ma-king decisions about insulation, double glazing, effi-cient heating installations, good ventilation or the use of sustainable energy.

From the perspective of the municipality, the housing associations are an important group because they own more than 50% of the housing units in Amsterdam. During the second phase, private landlords (22%) and owner/residents (27%) will follow. It goes without saying that resident and tenant organisations will be involved in this process.

Almost half of the 385,000 housing units in Amsterdam were built before World War II. This was a time when the energy performance norm (EPN) had not even been invented. Only 8% of the housing units in Amsterdam have been built since the EPN was implemented. In old houses, wasted energy is the norm. Insulation, double glazing, efficient heating installations and good ventilation improve the energy quality of these houses. And together with the use of sustainable energy, this reduces CO2 emissions.

Reduction possibilitiesIf all housing associations perform maintenance and renovation at a robust level until 2018, a CO2 reduc-tion of 31% is possible. If the housing associations continue these efforts until the target year of 2025, the savings will rise to 37%. In that case, there will be no room to make exceptions, for example due to buil-ding regulations. The reduction will be partly achieved by selling units, tearing down old units and building new ones.

The first steps have already been takenn Since February of 2007, the municipality has

headed the leaders alliance in which the housing associations are challenged to achieve the best performance. As a result, the attention for energy savings in existing housing has increased. In addition, the leaders alliance has led to concrete initiatives such as the Step2Save project (see page 15).

n Joint initiatives create a strong network. A good example is the presentation of a joint case study – during the BouwRAI – by the housing associations Ymere, Het Oosten, De Key and the Climate Office. Another example is the Network for Energy Savings, an initiative of the Amsterdam Federation of Housing Associations. As part of this network, all the housing associations exchange expertise about energy savings in existing housing and new housing.

n In the meantime, the first housing associations have formulated their sustainability policy.

n This year, the municipality and the housing associations will jointly realise three model houses. These models houses show what is possible to reduce CO2 emissions. The plan is to deliver these houses to their new residents at the beginning of 2009.

30


n The Climate Office and a number of financiers are jointly seeking possibilities to aid owners associations when taking energy saving measures. This concerns advice, implementing the measures and providing the financing for the measures.

… there are more steps to taken Every year, the municipal housing service and the

housing associations make agreements about the contributions that each of the associations will make to the aims in the housing policy agreement. Climate will be an important aspect in these agree-ments.

n In 2008, the housing associations will assign energy labels to most of their housing inventory. This pro-cess provides a lot of information about the cur-rent state of affairs and the steps that still need to be taken. It is important to share this new exper-tise with each other.

n A number of housing associations need to acquire more understanding of the energy quality of their housing and must begin developing a sustainability policy.

n All the housing associations together sell ap-proximately 2000 housing units per year Generally speaking, the new owner/resident does not invest in energy saving measures. If a housing association implemented these measures before the sale, it could include the investment in the sales price, and the reduction in CO2 emissions would then be as-sured.

n Approximately 6% of the households in Amster-dam are still receiving unmetered heat (central heating and warm water). With a meter and an individual account, energy and water consumption is reduced by 10 to 15%.

n The demands of the building code hamper far-reaching energy savings especially in houses from the pre-war era. Due to its role in this process, the municipality must find a new balance that does justice to both the beauty of the city and the ne-cessity for energy savings.

Renovate at a robust level

Ruined by the energy billIn recent years, energy prices have been rising by approximately 7.5% annually, while rents have been rising only 1.5%. The price increases have been felt most severely in poorly isolated houses. These houses are often occupied by people with lower incomes. Due to the rapidly increasing energy prices, the relatively low rent is no longer an advantage.

FRANK BIJDENDIJK General Director of Stadgenoot‘An unbridled rise in the energy bills of our tenants must be brought to a halt. The energy prices are rising much faster than the rental prices. As long as we are primarily using our limited reserves of gas, oil and coal, this trend will continue. As a result, the affordability of housing is being increasingly threatened. Therefore, investing in energy savings is an absolute priority for Stadgenoot.’

PIETER DE JONG Member of the Ymere Executive Committee ‘Ymere attaches a great deal of importance to sustainability and limiting the energy costs of our residents. Therefore, in 2008 Ymere will develop an integrated sustainability policy. Over the short term, the focus will be on insulating our housing units. For this purpose, we will invest many millions of euros in existing housing during the next few years.’

PETER VAN LINGDirector of Housing and Real Estate Maintenance for De Key‘In 2008 De Key will tackle the housing units in the Spaarndammerbuurt, which we will make CO2 neutral. In addition, during changes of residents, every housing unit will be provided with a high high-efficiency boiler and double glazing. We focus on sustainability not only in our housing units, but also in our own organisation. For example, the new building for our maintenance service is being built with a thermal storage system, our leasing policy will stipulate energy-efficient cars only, and all our office materials and furniture are FSC certified.’

31

Existing buildings

back from the future2025 - Amsterdam residents laugh at the exorbitant prices being charged for fossil fuels. Smart housing improvements have ensured that they are much less dependent on energy from the grid. Solar, wind, biomass and thermal storage provide most of their energy needs. Due to innovations in energy, they live comfortably without sky-high energy bills.

Process & PartnersThe subprogramme Existing Housing Inventory be-gan unofficially in the spring of 2007 when a number of parties joined together in the ‘leaders alliance’. These parties can and will improve their housing units. A number of sessions of this group led to the launch of successful initiatives, and in the autumn the Climate Office expanded the dialogue to include the entire professional sector. All housing associati-ons have joined the network, and tenants associa-tions also participate. Parties in real estate and ow-ners associations will join soon. During the second phase, the subprogramme will primarily expand in the direction of owners/residents. The Climate Of-fice, SEGON and the City Districts are currently de-veloping joint initiatives for approaching this target group. In addition, Vastgoedbelang and the Climate Office recently began a consultation with tenants organisations to arrive at an energy savings agree-ment for privately owned housing. The first group of leaders has brought the entire field into motion. The focus is now on implementation, maintaining the leading position and making a climate agreement with the municipality.

Partners: Amsterdams steunpunt wonen, Amster-dam Federation of Housing Associations, Amvest, Bouwfonds MAB, de Alliantie Amsterdam, Bureau Welstand, Dienst Wonen, ECN, Far West, Huurders-vereniging Amsterdam, Nuon, SEGON, Stadgenoot, City Districts, Stichting Eigen Haard, Stichting VvE Belang, Vastgoedbelang, Woningstichting Rochdale, Woonstichting De Key, Ymere.

CO2 emissions from housing association inventory

500

2006 2025

kt/y

ear

Housing inventory according to year of construction

1991-20001981-1990

1946-1980

before 1946

after 2000

200.000

100.000

0

Distribution of Amsterdam housing ownership

subsidised rental

owner/resident

private landlord

250

0

32

business climate

33


delegating the task of saving energyIn cooperation with several financial institutions and energy companies, a concept is being developed that will make it easier for companies to benefit from energy savings. For example, a business that requires a new lighting installation will not have to invest in this installation itself; it will repay the financed amount from the savings on its energy bill.This concept will be tested in the near future and – if successful – will be structurally included in the other projects and expanded. SMEs are responsible for approximately 25% of total CO2 emissions in Amsterdam. The size of the accommodation and the type of activity are good indicators of the CO2 emission. Important items are lighting, heating, refrigeration, apparatus for kitchens, production and offices, air-conditioning and climatisation.

Energy savings is the first step to CO2 reduction. Over the short term, remarkable results can be achieved with efficient apparatus and improved logis-tics. Possibilities for more far-reaching reductions by means of very energy-efficient new construction and renovation occur during natural investment moments. A framework of cooperation involving businesses, SME Amsterdam, the Chamber of Commerce, ORAM and the City Districts gives shape to the SME pro-gramme. During the years to come, the partners in this programme will develop dozens of CO2 reduc-tion packages for specific SME groups. Key concept: delegating the task of saving energy. Specifically, smaller companies have little time and insufficient capacity. This means that the savings measures must be implemented with a minimum of obstacles.

Delegating the task of saving energy: energy savings measures with a minimum of difficulty and obstacles

For three SME groups, packages of measures are al-ready being compiled. The strategy here is to bring businesses who are looking for buyers for their sustai-nable products into contact with businesses who want to make their operations more sustainable, but don’t know exactly how to do this. The programme aims to achieve a snowball effect in cooperation with the leading group. For example, suppliers and installers in the programme are working on an initiative for ef-ficient lighting for businesses.

offices, warehouses and manufacturingA brief series of business scans brings sustainable sa-vings and benefits into the picture and links these to the best investment moments. These investment mo-ments range from replacing lighting, office equipment or technical installations to large-scale renovation and new construction. Businesses, business associations,

In Amsterdam, there are between 15,000 and 20,000 small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as bakeries, production companies, hotels, offices and many others. The SMEs are an economic motor, a motor that does not pollute. An SME programme is given shape in a broad framework of cooperation between parties from government and business.

parties involved with business park management, sup-pliers and the municipality all contribute to the realisa-tion of pilot projects. The successful approaches used by the leaders will be carefully adapted to a solution which will be interesting for a large group of busines-ses.

Specific options for specific business groups

hotelsIn this sector, CO2 reduction concerns the buildings, the technical installations and the hotel room facilities (water, lighting, television, refrigerator). Here as well, innovative suppliers and Green Key hotels are deve-loping concrete CO2 reduction options that are being applied. These options will then be made available to a large group of hotels.

34


JAN PASTOR Hotel de l’Europe‘Since December 2007, the first Green Key Certi-ficate has been hanging on our street façade. We had to do a great deal to become certified, such as reducing gas and electricity consumption and repla-cing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents. I had not realised that the cost savings would be noticeable so quickly.’

KEES VERHOEVENSME Amsterdam‘SME Amsterdam wants there to be a ‘ready to use’ line of products from which businesses can choose. We will therefore encourage our members and other businesses to use these products. Besides the fact that they save energy and are sustainable, they also lead to lower costs for the business.’

shops and cafés/restaurants/cateringFor shops, the initial focus concerns the shop facilities: lighting, shop entry and apparatus.Several innovative retailers and suppliers will determine which possibilities are available to reduce CO2 emissions. They will do this, among other ways, by reducing unnee-ded lighting at night.In another project, all businesses in the Utrechtsestraat will be advised about simple measures and supported during their implementation. With the experience ac-quired during the pilot project, street managers can encourage larger groups of shops to implement the solu-tions. Additional expansion will take place in cooperation with the City Districts.

The municipality is investigating possibili-ties to reduce the monitoring of busines-ses which have taken ‘demonstrable clima-te measures’. This is already the case with businesses that have a ‘Green Key’.

35


Process & PartnersThe SME was prominently present during the first Climate Conference (December 2007). Key mes-sage: people want to make an active contribution to the climate aims of the municipality. For the Climate Office, this is partly the reason that we established a separate SME programme, which was launched in February 2008. To begin with, we discussed the proposed course with SME Am-sterdam, ORAM and the Chamber of Commerce. The main focus is the development – by and for the SME – of low threshold climate products with which businesses can save money and energy. The basic principle is that businesses can delegate as much of the energy savings task as possible.Together with business associations and/or indi-vidual businesses, the first initiatives are being taken for low threshold products (and especially for their application) in cafés/restaurants & retail, hotels, business parks, offices, warehouses and production facilities. SME Amsterdam, ORAM and local business associations are supporting the various initiatives. The results will be presented at the annual conference of SME Amsterdam.

Partners: Amsterdamse Innovatie Motor (AIM), ATCB, Building Enver, De Bakkerswinkel (War-moesstraat), Eco-Logisch, ElseWear, Energie-centrum MKB, Etaloid, Fanu, Goede Waar & Co, GreenHost, HM Architecten, Koreman Lichton-derhoud, KvK, MKB Amsterdam, NUON, ORAM industry manager, Philips Lighting, Rabobank Gre-ater Amsterdam, Search, Stichting Collusie, Trilux, Triodos, Van Gansewinkel.

CO2 emissions by SME

1000

500

02006

kt/y

ear

Gross floor area SME Amsterdam

Cafés/restaurants

Shop space

Office space

Warehouses and production facilities

2025

back from the futureDoing business in the Amsterdam of the future is an amazing experience. The beneficial business climate of the capital city of the Netherlands has attracted many innovative businesses. Climate-conscious businesses not only save money, they also work in a new environment. Climate-neutral shopping districts draw visitors from the Netherlands and abroad, visitors who come not only to shop…

36

From data centre to playstation

37

The leaders in the Amsterdam ICT sector and the Cli-mate Office are developing the Green-IT programme. This initiative aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of ICT technology in households and businesses. In addition, Green-IT is looking for possibilities to use ICT else-where in the economic system to achieve CO2 reduc-tion. The programme will gradually comprise initiatives focusing on various issues, target groups and effects. In 2008, the focus will be on reducing the CO2 emissions of data centres: Green DC.

in green dCn companies will be provided with knowledge about

the necessity of sustainable energy consumption and about the available possibilities (technical and otherwise);

n together with the sector, it will be determined how the municipality can help businesses contribute to the municipal CO2 target;

n initiatives of leaders will be put in the spotlight for the sector;

n data centres and the municipality will make volun-tary climate agreements.

other components of green-iTn The Climate Office participates in the annual In-

novation Award ICT & CO2 of Digikring; this award aims to challenge the ICT sector and the creative SME in Amsterdam to come up with solutions for energy issues. The Office assigns one project leader and one communications officer to help organise the event and provides the prize money. Marijke Vos from the municipal executive presents the award.

n The energy performance of municipal ICT is exa-mined: energy criteria for purchasing; using ICT technology to save energy within the municipal organisation; energy savings in the municipal infra-structure.

ICT

The ICT sector plays an important role in the local eco-nomy. The sector offers direct employment to 9% of the professional population in Amsterdam. Moreover, virtually all other economic sectors in Amsterdam have a strong relationship with ICT. For example, consider the importance of computers and Internet for the cre-ative industry, telecom, the financial sector, universities and research institutes and other businesses and orga-nisations, including the municipality itself. In short, a healthy and innovative ICT sector is very important for Amsterdam. Attention for the electricity consumption of the sector is relevant, even more so if its expected rapid growth is taken into account. The same applies to the use of ICT technology in households and offices.

Computers and automation reduce the workload and can replace energy-wasting processes. But ICT also generates a world of new possibilities and has its own dynamics which result in a significant energy consumption. Communication Centre Amsterdam is accepting the challenge to combine the rapid developments in ICT with energy savings.

ANWAR OSSEYRANDirector of Sara and Chair of the Green-IT initiativeSustainability is not only about saving money, it is especially about continuity, and later on: growth. Busi-ness people who embrace sustainability can create more with less; later on, they will have the market.’

NIELS SIJPHEERresearcher at Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands‘In the ICT sector, there is still a great deal of low-han-ging ‘energy fruit’ to be picked, certainly if compared with other sectors.’

BAS BOORSMAHead Connected Urban Development, Cisco‘ICT helps to reduce costs and energy consumption and increases comfort. My advice is to do the same thing with information that we have done with water in our modern societies: bring it to the user, instead of bringing the user to the information. After all, we don’t get stuck in a traffic jam to get water at the well?’

38


cooling22%

other2%

ICT apparatus70%

growing demand for sustainabilityThe wishes of clients can also make the sector be-come more sustainable. Large companies (with good examples in the financial world) and government agen-cies are increasingly placing demands on the sustaina-bility of the products and services that they buy. In this way, the market must also increasingly provide insight into its energy efficiency and the sustainability of the energy that is used.

iCT and energyIn 2006 electricity consumption of the Amsterdam ICT sector was equivalent to the electricity con-sumption of 44,000 average Dutch households.Converted to the share in the CO2 emissions of all Amsterdam businesses, this amounts to 6%; with respect to Amsterdam as a whole, this is 2%.

The expected growth in the ICT sector is ap-proximately 8% per year. Viewed from a broader perspective, the significant electricity consumption for ICT use in households and offices could also be included. Approximately 25% of the household elec-tricity consumption is used by ICT apparatus, and offices consume approximately 27 kWh per m2 per year for this purpose. It is especially the ICT use in households that is expected to increase strongly in the years to come.

households0.3 TWh/year

offices0.1 TWh/

year

infrastructure0.2 TWh/year

data centres and energy costsA data centre or data hotel is a commercial buil-ding where computer servers – for example those of Internet providers – operate under controlled climate conditions. In recent years, computer technology has become much ‘heavier’ due to the wishes of clients and the rapid technological deve-lopment. As a result, the energy consumption has grown sharply, also the energy that is needed for the air-conditioning/cooling (approximately 30% of the electricity consumption) that the centres require.

A number of companies perform significantly better with the aid of innovative cooling systems and the use of sustainable energy. This provides environmental benefits and a better competitive position because the energy costs are a steadily increasing part of the total operational costs.

emergency power provision

4%

During the years to come, more and more Amsterdam data centres will become aware of this situation and will also understand the possibilities to perform well in this regard.For example, during new construction, the centres will aim for the greatest possible energy efficiency. The leaders in this area will become apparent, even more so because of the spotlights that shine on them in pro-jects in which they participate (such as Green DC).

39

ICT

back from the futureIn 2025, the retirement home is maintained at a pleasant temperature thanks to the heat production of the data hotel around the corner. We no longer waste energy on cooling and the servers operate on a fraction of the energy that they previously required. Of course, this energy is sustainable. The ICT sector has developed smart software with which the entire city can manage, limit and optimise its energy consumption.

CO2 emissions by ICT infrastructure

100

2006

kt/y

ear

2025

80

40

60

Connected urban developmentAs part of the Clinton Global Initiative, Amsterdam is working together with Seoul, San Francisco and Cisco on making cities more sustainable (climate-friendly) with the aid of ICT (the ‘Connected Urban Develop-ment’ programme - CUD). ICT plays a role in monito-ring and in finding solutions, such as creating green buildings or smarter transport methods.

In principle, the measures developed in the program-me must be reproducible in other cities and countries. Therefore, in addition to developing, testing and implementing measures, the dissemination of the ac-quired expertise also has a high priority.

The Amsterdam contribution to the CUD programme is the following: research (conducted by the municipality and the business community) into the potential role of Smart Work Centres to control traffic jams; developing a Personal Transport Assistant; research into methods for using modified ICT to reduce the CO2 emissions of offices; the results from Green DC.

Reducing the CO2 emissions of data cen-tres is the main focus of Green DC

Process & PartnersThe municipality and ICT businesses from greater Amsterdam are jointly discussing the theme of ICT and energy use. For example, the initial meeting of the Green DC initiative was attended by representa-tives of 35 organisations including data centres, ICT multinationals, universities and research institutes, the national government and the sector association. In a series of follow-up meetings (partly in parallel) various programme lines were worked out in greater detail. The Climate Office facilitated this process by paying the organisational costs, commissioning exter-nal advisors and providing a project leader who was responsible for personal contact with the network of businesses and the substantive line of the Green DC initiative. In addition, the deliberately chosen atmosp-here of creative competition (the Innovation Award) encouraged solutions.

Partners: AIM, ASP4all, BT Nederland N.V., Cisco Sys-tems, Colt, DELL, Digikring, ECN, Equinix, EvoSwitch, EZ, F-fectis, Getronics – Pinkroccade, Global Switch, HP, IBM, ICT-Office, Intel. Interxion, KPN, Level3, Microsoft, Pins, Sara/Netherlight, SenterNovem, Serv-icehuis ICT, Sun, Microsystems, TelecityGroup, TNO ICT.SenterNovem, Servicehuis ICT, Sun, Microsystems, TelecityGroup, TNO ICT.

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alternatives on the Road

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Transport

In the years to come, the CO2 emissions from vehicles will decline due to more stringent European norms and national instruments. In 2012, the average pas-senger car must not emit more than 130 g of CO2 per travelled km. Today, this is approximately 200 g. The Netherlands aims to go even further, to 80 g per km in 2020. In that year, the transport sector will be required to use at least 10% biofuel.

More and more automobile manufacturers are deve-loping hybrid or bi-fuel vehicles. Hybrid vehicles have both an electrical motor and a petrol motor on board. One example of a bi-fuel system is a motor that burns both natural gas and petrol.

Experiments are taking place with other sustainable, low-CO2 or CO2-free fuels such as biogas or hydro-gen (see below). In the Netherlands, it is expected that the implementation of road-use pricing will have major environmental benefits. This levy will apply to heavy commercial vehicles in 2011 and a year later to passenger cars. The aim is not to tax the possession of a vehicle, but the use of a vehicle, and thereby to discourage its use. In addition, there are proposals to replace the private motor vehicle tax with a CO2 tax. This taxation would promote the purchase of new, ef-ficient and low-emission passenger cars.

amsterdamThe Action Plan for Goods Transport and the Priority for a Healthy City programme have the objective of improving the air quality in Amsterdam. Some of the measures that restrict the emissions of particulate mat-ter and nitrogen dioxide also lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions. The aim of the Action Plan for Goods Transport is to reduce the emissions of heavy commer-cial vehicles by 15%. An environmental zone for such heavy vehicles will restrict the most polluting ones. The implementation of the quality network for goods transport and promoting other forms of goods trans-

New fuels and new legislation are leading to vehicles with reduced emissions and are reducing the amount of transport. This has improved the quality of the air and has reduced CO2 emissions. This section provides an overview of measures, plans and possibilities.

port such as City Cargo, Mokum Mariteam, and bicy-cle couriers will also make a significant contribution to CO2 reduction.

The Priority for a Healthy City programme is an ambi-tious plan to reduce the air pollution caused by traffic within the Ring A10. An environmental zone for pas-senger cars and vans and a maximum speed of 80 kph on the major road network will also make a substantial contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. Discussion is still taking place about the implementation of this measure with the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

The automobile and truck are experien-cing healthy competition

Making vehicles more environmentally friendlyVarious pilot studies, initiatives and projects will lead to cleaner mobility during the years to come. First of all, the existing means of transport in the city will be made more sustainable. This means more electric scooters, tuktuks and tour boats operating on hydrogen.

Beginning in 2009, CityCargo will be operating a goods tram. The municipality is consulting with TCA about the possibilities of using cleaner taxis to reduce air pollution and CO2 emissions.

Waternet recently began generating biogas from waste-water treatment plants to supply green fuel for the muni-cipal vehicle fleet. Over the longer term, Waternet aims to convert the biogas into hydrogen.

Electrical transport on the path to hydrogenHydrogen is a ‘third wave’ solution, a fuel for the long term. As an interim step on the path to hydrogen, Amsterdam wants to promote electrical transport. Electrical vehicles have zero emissions; this is good for the air quality and therefore good for the health of

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the residents. Electrical transport has many similarities with hydrogen transport.

Both are driven by an electrical motor, in the first case with a battery and in the second case with a fuel cell.

The developments in this area moving fast. More and more manufacturers are producing an electrical or hy-brid vehicle for the market. In addition, electrical vans and trucks are going to be driving through the city.

And on the canals, there are more and more electri-cally powered pleasure boats. Electrical scooters can be recharged in the parking stalls. As a result, the street landscape is going to soon become quieter and cleaner.

Climate benefits from action plans for healthy city air

Fewer vehicles As the municipal parking policy becomes more stringent, and mobility becomes more expensive, more people will start sharing a car. Greenwheels, Wheels4All, Connect-Car en Mobility Mixx have alrea-dy discovered this opportunity. It is known that people who share cars drive 30 to 50% less than car owners.

Waterways as blue carpets As a node in the water transport network, the water-ways of Amsterdam offer more transport possibilities that are currently being used. City District Centrum wants to improve accessibility by utilising these pos-sibilities.

It plans to encourage and facilitate market parties with a network of public docking facilities and quays. Cooperation between the municipality and hotels, museums, cafés and restaurants and tour boat opera-tors appears to be an obvious step. One initiative that is outstandingly compatible with the plans is Mokum Mariteam, a framework of cooperation of interested organisations that focuses on the transport of goods and the removal of waste using environmentally friendly vessels on the canals of the inner city.

CO2 emissions from traffic and transport

2006 2025

1000

1500

2000

2000

1500

1000

back from the futureVarious local and European measures have not only resulted in cleaner transport, but also in a reduction in individual automobile use.

Boats and trams have become serious competitors for trucks. The city has again become accessible.

The only vehicles and vessels that still operate in the Amsterdam of 2025 are those which do not harm the climate or people’s lungs. Hydrogen is the motor of Amsterdam. Half of the intercity transport has a fuel cell on board. Cleaner air and a spectacular reduction in CO2 emissions are the rewards for such technological daring. Boats, buses and cars have hydrogen filling stations to choose from. Goods transport and people both benefit.

The knowledge economy, innovative business and sustainable development feed on hydrogen.

Amsterdam is the European leader.

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Transport

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reduces local emissions of particulate matter and ni-trogen oxides, which benefits urban air quality. In this way, investing in hydrogen is valuable in the battle against emissions of CO2, particulate matter and nitro-gen oxides.The biggest obstacle for a broad application of hydro-gen is currently the infrastructure for this fuel and the related demand. Without a good distribution system, there will be no demand, and the reverse. This requi-res frameworks of cooperation and broad coalitions of private parties who want to play a role in the transition to a hydrogen economy.

a leader with hydrogenDue to the characteristics of Amsterdam, with a com-pact city centre and a dense traffic network, there are unique opportunities for goods distribution and public transport operating on hydrogen. In this process, Am-sterdam can build upon experience with fuel cell buses and a light truck operating on hydrogen, and on ex-perience that will soon be acquired with the tour boat

Amsterdam is betting on hydrogen, and for that mat-ter is in good company, because globally the automo-bile industry, large oil companies, energy companies and governments see an important role for hydrogen on the way to a sustainable society. Hydrogen is es-sentially only an ‘energy carrier’. It must be produced by using energy. But as an energy carrier, it is an ideal fuel. The reaction with oxygen in a combustion motor or fuel cell results in water as the only waste product.So this is good news for the air quality of the city.And as an energy carrier, hydrogen can form the ideal link between phases such as the combustion motor and sustainable energy sources such as photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbines. These sustainable sources generate the energy that is required to pro-duce hydrogen.Even if there is too little sustainable energy available at this time for large-scale, sustainable hydrogen pro-duction, by working on a hydrogen economy we are establishing the infrastructure for a very sustainable future. And, of course, every application of hydrogen

important role for hydrogenThree Amsterdam city buses are already operating on hydrogen. In hybrid cars, the use of hydrogen improves the efficiency of the motor; and the first Amster-dam hydrogen boat is waiting to be christened.

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Transport

Local Production

Qua

ntit

y

Fossil hydrogen

Green Fossil

Sustaina-ble H2

Local electrolysis with ‘green electricity’

Natural gas reforming, central and decentral

Reforming with CCS and production from biogas

H2 from solar, wind and second-generation biomass

Diesel

Petrol

Biofuels

CNG

LPG

Electricity

Hydrogen in fuel cell vehicle

Fuel consumption in Europedevelopment until 2050

300

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02000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

millions of vehicles

that operates on hydrogen. These experiences can help launch the transition to large-scale application, whereby the city will become a logical location to establish busi-nesses with new hydrogen applications.By actively working with hydrogen, Amsterdam and the Netherlands as a whole can acquire a position as one of the leaders of the hydrogen world.To achieve this objective for Amsterdam, intensive coo-peration between a wide range of parties – local, natio-nal and international – is required, including producers, distributors, governmental bodies and end-users. At the local level, a start can be made with a coalition of public and private parties. A broadly supported vision of the future with many applications in the city will serve as a blueprint for a business case. In this business case, the vision will be converted into a plan of approach for rolling out the hydrogen economy in the city.Amsterdam wants to play a leading role in a national hydrogen programme. To this end, in several years a close framework of cooperation will be established with other urban regions (such as Rotterdam, Arnhem and Eindhoven). In this framework of cooperation, Amster-dam will take the role of leader and will be a test site for large-scale transport applications.

Amsterdam heads the coalition for acquiring an international leading position in hydrogen

water > hydrogen > waterDuring the combustion of hydrogen (in a special com-bustion motor, comparable to a motor that operates on LPG) the process is reversed. During the combus-tion process, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to create energy (heat) and pure water. A similar reaction occurs in a hydrogen fuel cell, but in this case the reaction generates electricity that can drive an electric motor.

Process & PartnersAirProducts, Automobiliteit I.O, DMB, Ecofys, Minis-try of Economic Affairs, Municipality of Amsterdam, FuelCellBoat, GVB, Port of Amsterdam, Hytruck, ICON Publishers and Phaff, Chamber of Commerce, Nedstack, NewEnergy-Docks, ORAM, City Hall, City District Noord, Stadsregio Amsterdam, Waternet.

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sustainable mooring

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Port of Amsterdam

The FiRsT WaVe (2008 To 2010)The first wave of sustainability that passes over the Port of Amsterdam will bring cleaner transport and a shift to cleaner energy, among other things.

Cleaner transportSince 2003, the Westpoort Bus has been operating in the Port of Amsterdam; this is a private initiative for collective transport. Every day, between 500 and 600 port workers take the bus instead of their cars. Nearly two-thirds of the containers from ocean vessels are transported during the next phase via rail or inland waterways. With better transport links, this share can be increased even further, thereby reducing the use of more polluting road transport. One innovative example is the AMSbarge, a specially designed ship for inland waterways with its own heavy container crane that pro-vides a daily pickup and delivery service for companies on or near the waterways. A second ship is now on order. The Port of Amsterdam organisation uses hybrid cars. The CO2 emissions of business trips on aeroplanes are compensated with the restoration of 30,000 ha of forest in Malaysia. This region in Malaysia is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Three waves that will bring the Port of Amsterdam to a sustainable future!

source of energyAt the end of 2008, wind turbines with a capacity of 65 megawatts will be installed at Westpoort, which is enough to supply 40,000 households with clean elec-tricity. Moreover the Energy & Waste Company (AEB), which generates electricity from waste, is also located at Port of Amsterdam. In the years to come, the district heating grid, which AEB supplies with its residual heat, will be expanded so that other businesses in Westpoort can also supply their residual heat to the grid.In April 2008, construction began on the new facility for

The Port of Amsterdam is committed to sustainable development, as shown in its strategic plan (Havenvisie 2008-2020). This means that wind energy and thermal storage will be expanded, business clusters will benefit optimally from waste streams and sustainable biomass will be introduced as a motor for business. Road transport must be replaced where possible by rail and water transport. And of course, the Port of Amsterdam will critically examine its own operational management to reduce CO2 emissions.

the Greenmills company. This innovative company pro-duces biodiesel, bioethanol, compost and green electri-city. Greenmills operates as a closed system, where the residual heat that is generated during the fermentation and composting process is used for the rendering plant. The Westpoortbus operates on biodiesel produced by Greenmills. The Port of Amsterdam aims to take a lea-ding position in the blending and distribution of ‘green’ fuels.

Amsterdam: homeport of energy

Port of amsterdam FundBusinesses that want to make sustainable, innovative investments that exceed their direct commercial needs, or which exceed the applicable legal requirements, can apply for financing to a Port of Amsterdam Fund (Ha-venfonds), in formation.

To measure is to knowThe Environmental Policy Plan 2008-2012 calls for a baseline measurement of the CO2 emissions of West-poort and the Port of Amsterdam. This measurement is necessary to map out the effects of later CO2 reduction measures. Another useful study concerns the possibili-ties for providing electricity to moored ocean shipping vessels, thermal storage for offices and distribution centres, and CO2 capture, storage and reuse in the port area. The Port of Amsterdam also wants to further opti-mise the transport connections to the hinterland.

The seCond WaVe (2010 To 2020)After 2010, the Port of Amsterdam will commit itself to the development of sustainable business clusters in which products such as heat, electricity and CO2 will be used (or reused) by the businesses. The Port of Amster-dam holds a strong position on the energy market and has a great deal of expertise in this area. The applica-tion of more sustainable energy is therefore a logical

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660 kilowatt

step. This philosophy is compatible with businesses that focus, for example, on hydrogen, sustainable biomass, algae production and wind energy.

The ThiRd WaVe (2020 and beyond)Thanks to the first and second wave, in 2020 the Port of Amsterdam will be a sustainable port in which CO2 emissions are minimised, sustainable energy is genera-ted and cycles are closed whenever possible.

Taking Co2 to the seaRotterdam aims to store CO2 in an empty gas field in the North Sea. For Amsterdam, this is also a possibility. The Climate Office commissioned an exploratory study concerning the possibilities of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The most important conclusions are the following. Between 2010 and 2012, companies that emit pure CO2 (Category 1) can be connected the capture system because the capture costs are low. When the AEB qualifies for the Emissions Trading System, it will also be financially possible for this company to join the CCS scheme. At the point when about €40 has to be paid per tonne of emitted CO2 in the Emission Trading System, CCS will also become a serious option for Category 2 businesses, for which the capture costs are somewhat higher. This could mean that between 2012 and 2020, businesses from this category would be connected to the CO2 network. However, for the majority of the businesses (Category 3), this will still not be an option at this point in time. Amsterdam continues to track the developments.

3 megawatt

II: 1.6 Mt

I: 0.7 Mt

III: 3.8 Mt

The Port in figuresImportant goods that are transported through the Port of Amsterdam include coal, oil, grain, soya, animal feed, cocoa, sand, gravel and ores. In addition, the container sector is growing and Amsterdam holds a strong position in the pleasure cruise sector. Due to this diversity, the Port is less susceptible to fluctuations in the business cycle. The Port of Amsterdam covers an area of 2,553 ha. It has more than 900 businesses and total goods transhipments of 65 million tonnes. Every year, 5,600 seagoing vessels moor at the Port (figures from 2007).

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Port of Amsterdam

Process & PartnersTo achieve the ambitions from the strategic plan, good cooperation with partners in the Amsterdam region is a precondition. The Port of Amsterdam is consulting with the businesses in the port area to encourage and facilitate the reduction of CO2 emissions. Specifically, the cooperation with ORAM, the Chamber of Commerce, New Energy Docks and the Climate Office is being intensified in order to realise the Amsterdam climate objective.

back from the futureIn 2025, the Port of Amsterdam has become an in-ternational node in a clean transport network over land and on the river IJ. On the wharves, businesses use sustainable energy wherever possible or they obtain energy from their neighbours who have a surplus.

Overview of wind turbine locations

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learning environment for climate

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Education

PRiMaRy eduCaTionAmsterdam has 190 primary schools and 28 schools for special primary education where approximately 60,000 pupils are given lessons every day. In total, these schools own nearly 300 buildings and 170 gym-nasiums. Based on the condition of many of these buildings and their technical installations, and conside-ring the possibilities to manage energy and behaviour, it is absolutely clear that the consumption of gas and electricity can be reduced.

City District Westerpark is conducting a pilot project that allows the schools to largely delegate the impro-vements to their buildings and that also introduces climate education.

All school administrations in the City District Wester-park are supporting the pilot. A unique aspect is the financing construction for the integrated package of measures for energy savings and improving the indoor environment.The approach that ultimately emerges from the pilot project will become the standard for a multiyear reno-

The education sector comprises a large group of Amsterdam residents: students, pupils, parents and teachers. In this way, education provides the opportunity to inform a large group of people about the climate issue and about the possibi-lities to contribute to the solution themselves. Addressing this theme becomes even more ‘natural’ if the school accommodations are also critically examined: the large number of educational buildings offer many possibilities for improve-ment, where both energy savings and an improved indoor climate are within reach.

DICK JANSEN Alderman for Education, City District Westerpark‘The indoor climate at primary schools is poor, and at many schools up to 40% can be saved on energy. Therefore, Westerpark is committed to improving its primary schools. This is good for the learning performance of the pupils, leads to less sickness and absenteeism and is of course also good for the climate.

vation programme. The experience in Westerpark will cause a snowball effect in the rest of the city. While the buildings are being improved, the primary schools will be encouraged to anchor the themes of climate, energy and sustainability in the lesson programme.

Within a few years, (before 2010), the primary schools De Bron, Westerparkschool and Dr. Rijk Kramerschool will have a both healthy indoor climate and an out-standing energy performance.During this period, the other schools in Westerpark will implement measures that can be realised quickly, such as fine-tuning the central heating system. The multiyear plan also stipulates when the buildings will be renovated for energy savings and when the indoor climate will be improved. The school administrations in Westerpark will publicise their good experiences and in this way create support in the rest of the city.

All primary schools in the City District Westerpark support the pilot project for building improvement and climate education.

higheR eduCaTionVU University, the University of Amsterdam, Amster-dam University of Applied Sciences, InHolland, Am-sterdam Regional Community College and Amarantis provide education to more than 150,000 students in approximately 180 buildings. The CO2 emission of these institutions amounts to 2.5% of the total for Amsterdam. We are going to change this situation. These parties endorse the climate of objective of the Municipality of Amsterdam and want to contribute to the reduction of urban CO2 emissions.

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Total

primary education

higher education

100

150

100

50

02004 2025

CO2 emissions related to education

As part of multiyear agreements, several higher edu-cation institutions have already committed themselves to a minimum of 2% energy savings per year. In con-nection with the above, agreements have been made about energy savings in the buildings (existing and new construction) and involving students in the cli-mate objectives.

The municipality and various parties in higher education share a far-reaching cli-mate objective

Towards 2010In 2010, the institutions for higher education will have formulated energy savings plans that are more ambitious than the multiyear agreements. Every four years, these plans will be renewed with new climate initiatives. Every year, it will be determined whether the interim results are sufficient for achieving the ul-timate targets. At the very least, large-scale energy savings measures will be implemented that can pay for themselves within five years. All institutions will have switched to green electricity. Sustainability will be the basic principle for the operational management and new construction plans for the institutions.

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back from the futureIn 2025 the Westerpark model has lead to healthy, energy-efficient primary schools throughout the city.Due to the improved indoor climate, the learning performance of the pupils has increased and the absenteeism among pupils and teachers has declined. The improvements have also resulted in energy savings of 30 to 40%. Climate, energy and sustainability have become permanent aspects in the lesson programmes in primary education.In higher education, due to a collective effort and a great deal of knowledge transfer, a CO2

reduction of 40% has been achieved. All students are now aware of the climate issue and are personally involved in reducing CO2 emissions.

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Education

Process & PartnersFor the Education subprogramme, the Climate Office has decided to focus the first phase on primary education and higher education. Secondary education will be approached at a later stage to work out a subprogramme. For primary education, the Climate Office invited the City District Westerpark to participate. After the school administrations unanimously agreed with this request, the staff of the City District and the school administrations proceeded to work out the details for the pilot project. In the approach to higher education, the most important six institutions were first defined, followed by consultation at the management level (between the Climate Office and the institutions). After this or in parallel, the ambitions for each institution were formulated, which involved the project leader for the education sector from the Climate Office and staff from the institution.

Partners: Primary education: Westerpark primary schools . Higher education: VU University, the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, InHolland, Amsterdam Regional Community College and Amarantis

‘youth on stage’ switch nowWith the project Switch Now, well known Dutch rapper Ali B is offering young people in the Netherlands an opportunity to give a performance on the climate issue. The Municipality of Amsterdam believes it is important to also involve young people in this issue and has therefore provided funding for the debates in cooperation with HIER. Ali B: ‘Climate also affects young people. They have to face the consequences themselves, or to put it even more strongly, young people in developing countries already have to deal with more extreme weather. I have noticed that this topic is very important to young people. Therefore, together with the young people, I want to appeal to everyone in the Netherlands to do something now about the climate problem, starting with HIER at school.’

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agreements and plans

Vu university will commit itself to the intended CO2 reduction for the period 2009 2012 in an energy efficiency plan

(EEP) as part of its climate activities, the university will study the possibilities of involving students in an energy

campaign, to be organised in cooperation with the Climate Office with new construction, sustainability is one of the basic principles in the design in its current accommodations, the university will apply energy savings measures that pay for themselves

quickly.

university of amsterdam will commit itself to the intended CO2 reduction for the period 2009–2012 in an energy efficiency plan

(EEP); will study the possibility of generating sustainable energy at the Science Park; will obtain purchased electricity from hydroelectric plants in Norway; students – and indirectly their parents – will be involved in implementing climate activities (research, field

trips, education, work placement, campaigns).

amsterdam university of applied sciences will take energy savings measures for technical installations and computer use; is already purchasing 25% green electricity; has included a sustainability section in the Planning Brief for the Amstel campus students – and indirectly their parents – will be involved in implementing climate activities (research, field

trips, education, work placement, campaigns).

inholland in 2012 the institution will trade two Amsterdam locations for a new building at the Zuidas, in cooperation

with the VU. Sustainability will be the basic principle in this process.

RoC amsterdam has an ambitious policy for energy, indoor climate and health, materials, water and sustainability. Existing buildings: energy-saving measures will be implemented which pay for themselves within 10

years; New construction: regarding energy performance, the requirements are 30% more stringent than the

legal norm.

amarantis following a merger, the energy use in buildings is again mapped out; implements energy management and installs submeters to pinpoint energy use; formulates an energy savings plan and uses every natural opportunity to take energy savings measures; realises sustainable new construction and sets an example with an energy neutral school in Amsterdam

Noord.

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CRediTs

new amsterdam Climate is a publication of the Amsterdam Climate Office

editing and production Maurits Groen Milieu & CommunicatieHaarlem

Translation v.o.f. Frink CommunicationsMillingen a/d Rijn

design Tekst in VormHaarlem

Printing NefliHaarlem

Photographs and imagespage 1 Martijn Mulder/ Municipality of Amsterdampage 14 Martijn Mulderpage 28 Far Westpage 32/34 Marqtpage 36 Getronics-Pinkroccadepage 44 René van den Burg

addressWeesperplein 4P.O. Box 9221000 AX Amsterdam

Contact020-5513833t.vdbeek@dmb.amsterdam.nlwww.nieuwamsterdamsklimaat.nl

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