Sustainability Report
Certificates
Embodied carbon
The project Alliander HQ emphasizes sustainability through different stages. A glass atrium connects five buildings, enhancing energy efficiency and comfort. It utilizes air heating, a ground source heat pump, and solar panels for a positive energy balance, sharing surplus energy with nearby companies. Materials were reused, with 80% repurposed on-site. Locally sourced recycled steel and demolition wood reduced transport emissions. Rainwater is collected for cooling and toilets, while transport movements were monitored for environmental impact.
More details about the project and materials:
- Digital Material Passports: The project established a detailed raw materials passport (through Madaster) documenting each material for potential future reuse.
- High Percentage of Known Origin Materials: The origin and processing of 80% of the materials used are known, supporting circularity.
- Reused Wooden Facades: 2000 m² of interior facades utilize waste wood sourced locally, attached for easy disassembly and future reuse.
- Reused Insulation: Worn-out work jackets were processed into cavity wall insulation.
- Reused Paving: Old on-site stones were crushed and reused in landscaping and under parking.
- Lighter Structural Adaptation: The existing brick facade will be replaced with lighter wood for structural reasons, potentially reducing the need for extensive foundation reinforcement and new material use.
- Reused Roof Structure Components: The steel supporting structure of the new roof incorporates recycled steel, including beams from on-site demolition.
- Local Material Sourcing: Prioritized sourcing materials (like European sustainable softwood) from nearby locations to minimize transportation CO2 emissions.
- Upcycled Lighting Components: Lamp holders made from reclaimed high-voltage pylon insulators.
- Waste Separation for Material Recovery: 85% of removed materials were sorted for reuse or recycling, including reprocessing and reapplying the existing bitumen roofing.
- Facade Cladding from Waste: Demolition wood, destined for incineration, was used as facade cladding.
Operational Emissions / Energy
The project's performance level in terms of operational emissions is Carbon Negative, with the following design choices:
- Energy Saving Strategies:
- Translucent roof to promote awareness of energy use and maximize natural light.
- Innovative air heating system (BaOpt principle).
- High-quality insulation.
- Sustainable Energy Generation:
- 10,000 m² of solar cells (1.5 million kWh/year).
- Ground source heat pump.
- Small wind turbines
- Energy Positive Building: Generates more energy than it consumes.
- Efficient Resource Use: Rainwater harvesting for cooling and toilet flushing.
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Charging points for electric cars and bicycles, encouraging lower-emission transportation.
Service and maintenance emissions
- Energy Positive Operation: Minimizes reliance on external power, cutting emissions and costs.
- Green Facades: Naturally purify air, reducing energy for mechanical filtration.
- Translucent Roof: Maximizes natural light and passive climate control, lowering energy use for lighting and HVAC.
- Durable/Reused Materials: Less frequent replacements and lower embodied energy for upkeep.
- Efficient Waste Management: Reduces landfill waste and related emissions.
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Monitored Transportation: Informs future material choices for lower transport emissions.
Afterlife
The project's core concept revolves around preserving and adapting existing buildings, indicating a strong consideration for the building's ongoing utility rather than designing for a completely different program in a distant "afterlife." The creation of the central atrium to connect the five buildings enhances their functionality as a unified and efficient whole, suggesting an adaptation for continued use as office space or similar functions. While specific future alternative programs aren't mentioned, the emphasis on economic, aesthetic, and ecological adaptation implies a flexible approach to the building's long-term viability.
The project incorporates numerous building elements designed for easy disassembly and integration into the circular economy:
- Reused Materials: The extensive reuse of existing materials (wood facades, insulation from workwear, paving stones, recycled steel structure, reused bitumen) inherently supports circularity by extending the lifespan of resources.
- Demountable Connections: The wooden interior facades are specifically attached in a demountable manner to facilitate future reuse.
- Material Documentation (Raw Materials Passport): The detailed recording of all materials used in a raw materials passport (through Madaster) is a crucial step towards enabling their future recovery and reuse.
- Recyclable New Materials: The selection of new materials that are recyclable ensures that they can be reintegrated into the material cycle at the end of their lifespan.
- Waste Sorting and Recovery: The rigorous on-site waste sorting system, achieving 80% reuse and recycling, demonstrates a strong commitment to minimizing waste and maximizing material value retention.
