Schiedam: Energy saving policy and integrated urban planning

Abstract:

Since the 1970s, the municipality of Schiedam has continuously improved its urban planning in favour of energy conservation. The promotion of energy saving policies has been a main theme, especially in the housing sector. However, the Schiedam planning approach also underlines that good practice in urban development has to go hand in hand with simultaneous activities in related policy sectors. Planting activities and traffic planning can significantly contribute to the improvement of the overall ecological balance. This case study has been selected for the following reasons:

• Environmental protection as a key element of the urban planning philosophy;
• Changing local regulations in favour of an environmentally compatible energy policy;
• Establishment of new energy standards for old as well as new buildings;
• Implementation of a pilot housing project in order to gain experience;
• Promotion of solar energy installations;
• Integration of an environmentally compatible energy policy into a comprehensive urban environmental strategy.

Concept and aims

Since the late 1970s the municipality of Schiedam has steadily incorporated the principles of environmental protection and energy saving in its planning policies. This policy started from simple initiatives over which the authority had most of the control, such as tree planting, and was followed by more complex measures in traffic planning, energy conscious design, energy efficient refurbishment, combined heat and power, passive solar energy and solar water heaters.

In 1979 the municipality of Schiedam decided to modify the building regulations in favour of energy conservation. At first the dominant motive for action had been the saving of energy by changing the pattern in sources of energy and replacing costly non-renewable fuels. Later more attention was given to a comprehensive policy approach of environmental protection. In short, the Schiedam planning philosophy is based on best practice principles rather than on specific targets.

Therefore, the municipality focused on the area of retrofitting the existing housing stock as a suitable target area to influence the environmental situation. In consequence, strict local regulations have been applied in building and renovation as approximately one-third of the total housing stock (11,000) is municipally owned. This policy was adopted in the planning of new housing estates (e.g. the Woudhoek Noord area) as well as renovation projects (e.g. the Hogebanweg complex). It included energy conscious design and basic research in energy performance. In addition, the policy of energy saving has been supported by environmentally compatible measures in the housing area, especially in the transportation sector.

Implementation

1. Energy conscious housing policy

In the 1980s energy saving approaches in the building sector tried to establish new energy standards which later might apply to as many new houses as possible. In 1984 the new Woudhoek Noord area, an estate with 76 family houses and 108 apartments, was built as part of a large new building complex. However, one has to bear in mind that this project has been a research test case and, therefore, can not easily be regarded as a general model for new built houses. In this project the optimum of energy conservation measures was planned and 184 so-called minimum energy dwellings were installed. The following energy saving measures were included in the dwellings which have an average volume of 200 cubic metres:

• Use of passive solar energy. The houses are oriented to the south with large windows directed to the south and small windows to the north;
• Use of natural cooling systems. Cellar-like cupboards were constructed in the north facing-walls for food conservation without using fossil energy;
• Use of window insulation. Shutters on the outside of windows provide better insulation and can be closed when appropriate. These shutters can be operated from inside;
• Use of buffers. Porches are placed at front and back doors in order to prevent cold air from entering the house;
• House insulation. 180 mm thick insulation material was placed over the outside walls, the roofs and floors of the houses, achieving an insulation of 0.15 W / m² K;
• Use of insulated glass. The windows contain triple glazing or double glazing with a special foil over the glass;
• Draught prevention, by means of sealing possible crevices and providing doors and windows with three hinges instead of the usual two;
• Use of economised ventilation systems. A balanced ventilation mechanism captures the warm air leaving the house by means of a heat exchanger;
• Use of efficient water boilers. A high efficiency boiler with electronic display provides heated water for direct use in kitchen and bathroom which passes through radiator pipes for room heating.

The renovation project at the Hogebanweg complex is a typical housing area of the 1950s. The project comprises 140 houses with three and four room apartments. In 1985/86 a retrofit insulation programme of improving the thermal insulation of these houses above the national standards incorporated the following energy saving methods:

• installation of double glazing;
• insulation of exterior walls;
• replacing old wooden window frames with synthetic ones to seal off cracks and crevices;
• replacing the conventional heating system with high efficiency central heating systems. The tenants had the choice of an individual central heating system or the connection to a local communal heating system.

Similar projects have been put into practice in the Daltonstraat (47 houses) and the Bejaardenflat (172 houses) estates.

2. Traffic policy

In new built areas traffic planning includes the designing of the entire public space as a pedestrian zone. There is no division between roads and footpaths. Nevertheless, cars have access to the area and there are also a certain number of car parks. However, the Woonerf area consists of speed-reducing obstacles at a maximum distance of 50 metres and at night there is sufficient lighting to recognise the Woonerf facilities. The policy is mainly implemented to discourage through traffic and to promote environmentally friendly means of transport like walking and cycling. Separate tracks for bicycles are being constructed. All means of transportation have equal status. In addition, the municipality of Schiedam developed the new built area together with the public transport system. After the completion of the first 200 houses a bus route went into operation. The tramway connection was opened before the first thousand houses had been built.

3. Further supporting activities in urban development

A planting and maintenance programme was put in to practice which mainly focused on the planting of new trees and the removal of hard surface (asphalt, bricks, paving materials) as far as possible.

Results and Impacts

In the new housing area the energy conscious design has made significant progress in the establishment of new energy saving standards. Compared to the national average of 1,500 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption, the research example at the Woudhoek Noord complex achieved an outstanding result of 311 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption. However, this extreme energy saving is not typical for the new houses in Schiedam. Nevertheless, compared to the national average their energy performances was already pioneering. The average annual natural gas consumption of six new housing projects range from 683 to 929 cubic metres. These results caused the municipality to declare that it will only co-operate in future building projects if builders would accept a performance standard of less than 1,000 cubic metres.

In the renovation sector the potentials of energy saving can not be evaluated as in new construction. Old houses differ to a great extent in their energy performance and are less suited to offer a relevant basis of reference values. However, the Schiedam renovation projects underline that considerable savings can be achieved. The energy performance at Hogebanweg revealed a saving of 200 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption. The level dropped from 1,100 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption to 900 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption. The savings at the Daltonstraat even amounted to 330 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption although this change happened on a higher consumption level. The reduction was from 1,390 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption to 1,060 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption. Finally, the Bejaardenflat project achieved a result of 950 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption and the energy savings amounted to 150 cubic metres of average annual natural gas consumption.

In 1992 the national target of insulation requirements for new dwellings was set at 950 cubic metres per household for the average annual natural gas consumption. Future standards should reach a performance standard of 750 cubic metres per household for average annual natural gas consumption. In the mean time, Schiedam is pursuing a housing policy that aims at an average annual natural gas consumption of 600 to 700 cubic metres.

Finance

As a rule the Schiedam energy saving policy in the housing sector aims to secure the environmental gains at approximately the same building price level. The experimental minimal energy dwelling at the Woudhoek Noord complex cost 12% more than a conventional house. The Dutch Government subsidised this project because it involved research and has been relevant as a development value. Normally, the extra cost would lead to a higher monthly rent in the public housing sector of 45 Dutch guilders. However, compared to the conventional method of building one can save up to 100 Dutch guilders per month on heating bills.

Source of Information

Zydeveld, Chris 1993: Low energy housing as part of an ecological district, in: Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umweltschutz, (Hg.) 1994: Energiepolitischen Ansätze zur CO₂ Minderung im Gebäudebereich, Neue Energiepolitik für Berlin H.12, Berlin, pp. 20-22

Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment, (ed.) 1994: The Greenhouse Effect. Preventive Urban Actions in the Netherlands, Study by the International Institute for the Urban Environment, Delft, Den Haag

OECD, (ed.) 1995: Urban Energy Handbook. Good Local Practice, Paris

OECD, (ed.) 1995: Netherlands. Environmental Performance Reviews, Paris

Contact:

Cities:

Schiedam :

Schiedam stands on the River Niewe Maas (New Meuse), close to the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It is known in particular for its gin distilleries. Important industrial branches in Schiedam include ship and vehicle building and mechanical engineering. In addition there is glass and paint manufacture.

Population:

Project was added at 25.06.1996
Project was changed at 06.03.2001

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