The government wants us to be CO2-neutral by 2050. As the largest housing corporation in the region, we can do something about that! And we are happy to do so. Choosing the most sustainable solution is very important to us. In everything we do. In the way we work, in our projects and in housing.
sustainability
In simple terms, sustainability means using the earth in a way such that future generations can also enjoy it and it will not fall short of their needs. To do this, we must significantly cut back our CO2 (carbon monoxide) emissions.
Eindhoven Sustainability Pact
We are affiliated with the Sustainability Pact. This is a cooperation between the municipality of Eindhoven, the housing corporations 'thuis, Sint Trudo, Wooninc. Woonbedrijf and Platform Eindhoven customer councils. Together, we are taking faster steps towards sustainability. We do this mainly in renewable energy, closed recycling cycles, greening the city and paying attention to people.
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The Natural Step
In sustainability, we work according to the Natural Step principles:
Do not introduce more substances from the earth into the environment faster than nature can process.
Do not release more chemicals into the environment faster than nature can process.
Do not degrade nature faster than the time it takes to recover.
Do not do things that restrict people from fulfilling their basic needs.
The Natural Step is a globally applied and scientifically underpinned methodology for shaping sustainability. The municipality of Eindhoven also operates according to these four principles.
Four themes: our way of operating sustainably
Besides the Natural Step, our way of operating sustainably focuses on four themes:
· Sustainable energy
· Closed recycling circles
· Natural city
· Collective awareness/Inspire and drive
Steps have been taken on all themes in recent years. And we will continue to take those steps in the future.
Sustainable energy
We want CO2-neutral homes by 2050. We share the ambitions of the Climate Agreement and the National Performance Agreements.
Our approach focuses primarily on better insulating our homes. But installing sustainable systems is also increasingly important in new and existing homes. An example of this is the heat recovery system (WTW system). We also replace old central heating boilers with new ones with a hybrid heat pump and solar panels. This decreases the amount of gas homes use.
We coordinate our activities as much as possible with the planning of the heat transition but do not let it delay our plans.
Closed recycling circles
We want to build, maintain and demolish in a completely circular way. This means that we reuse or redeploy almost all materials so the value of raw materials and products is not lost. A good example is Buurtschap te Veld, where we build circularly, and nature is part of the living environment.
Natural city
Climate change is bringing more drought, heat and extreme precipitation. We can make a difference by making the living environment more sustainable and greener. There are already fantastic projects running in this respect, such as Operation Steenbreek and Struikroven.
In the coming years, we will transform our green space in all our developments. This will become a permanent part of new buildings and renovations. With greenery, we can better capture rainwater, combat heat and restore biodiversity. In the coming years, the focus will be on climate-sensitive areas where flooding, heat or drought may occur.
Inspire and drive
Change starts with awareness. Only with that energy will we arrive at more and more sustainable choices. We want to raise awareness among ourselves, our cooperation partners and residents. And inspire them to do the right things.
As the biggest housing corporation and client, we want to drive innovation and development. For instance, employees follow online training sessions and workshops provided by The Natural Step. We offer residents the Energy Box and energy advice. The Klusbus helps residents to take small energy-saving measures in their homes. Read more.
