Green cable gives energy to new ZVC'22 clubhouse
The municipality of Zaanstad has a first with the new clubhouse of football club ZVC'22. It is one of the first buildings in our country where an exceptionally durable cable is used on a large scale. The green installation cable is a Dutch innovation from the largest cable manufacturer in the world: Prysmian, better known in the Netherlands as Draka. Its innovation saves almost 20 percent CO2 and has a very low carbon footprint. The Zaan company Stam Elektrotechniek recently started installing.
No less than 40 kilometers of cable are needed to provide the new clubhouse with electricity. Whether it is for the lighting, the fire alarm system, the burglary protection, the data network, access control, camera security or the solar panels. Stam Elektrotechniek will connect everything with the ecologically responsible cable.
More durable cable
The new installation cable, in technical terms VULT E-LINE, is much more durable than the cable that installers traditionally use. This is because the producer (Draka) combines a series of environmentally friendly measures. For example, the copper core is made from 100% recycled copper and the insulation from renewable, plant-based materials instead of fossil fuels. Add to that logistical measures, such as cardboard packaging and clean transport, and you quickly achieve a significant CO2 saving of 19 percent.
As sustainable as possible
The municipality of Zaanstad is a pioneer in sustainability.
"We are a great advocate of sustainability because materials and raw materials are running out. We have to get out of our comfort zone," says Jan van der Burg, senior project manager of the engineering firm of the Municipality of Zaanstad. "Sustainable choices must first and foremost come from the client. That is the party that makes and can make demands. As a client, you have to include as many sustainable products as possible in specifications."
Sustainable within budget
In this project, the Municipality of Zaanstad is not a client and could therefore not draw up specifications with sustainability requirements. But the municipality was not to be caught for one hole.
"In our role as project supervisor and financier, we opted for sustainability as much as possible within the available budget," says Van der Burg. It did this together with the construction partners, who were also selected in a sustainable way. "We only invited local parties to make quotations. In this way, we support local business and limit the transport kilometres for the project."
Newcomer
Stam Elektrotechniek was chosen for the electrical installation of the clubhouse. He then proposed to use a more durable cable.
Van der Burg: "We have no knowledge of sustainable cabling and immediately found their proposal interesting. We then substantiated the additional price internally and agreed on a target amount within the budget."
The installer was in turn pointed out to the cable by cable manufacturer Draka, explains Alle Visser of Stam Elektrotechniek. "I knew this cable from the media and knew that the municipality and contractor wanted to reduce CO2. I then made agreements with Draka to implement the cable. This project is a great opportunity for us to apply this product. Moreover, we have to move more and more in that sustainable direction anyway," says the manager.
Pioneer in sustainability
"The municipality of Zaanstad is a forerunner in sustainability in terms of construction," says Van der Burg proudly.
He mentions the Zaans Nature and Environment Center, which is built in a completely circular way, and the artificial turf main field of ZVC '22, which generates heat for the environment. The municipality is currently looking at whether it can even build a new school in Poland from the existing football canteen. The municipality seizes every opportunity to realize its sustainable ambitions by working together with other parties.
"Thanks to Stam Elektrotechniek and Draka, we can now also become more sustainable in terms of installation technology. That is an extremely good development."
Next projects
The installer shares the enthusiasm of the municipality. "Only by working together and sharing any additional costs can installation companies become more sustainable," says Visser.
He has already earmarked the following projects in the region to apply the same cable: The Highlands project in Alkmaar where 95 apartments are being built and two apartment complexes (105 apartments Hembrug Terrein in Zaandam and Project Mauritsstraat with 140 apartments in Zaanstad). A total of more than 300 apartments with about 640 kilometers of green cable. As far as he is concerned, there is no end to it.