Yesterdays tour took us to the new part of Amsterdam. They do not have land so they are creating islands to build houses. In Dutch terms saying houses can mean multi-family housing. We toured the Delta Works at the beginning of the week. I was a little amazed that the only conversation about adaptation to the rising sea level has been harden the shoreline. The water managment schops are restoring the streams to make them meander more which retains the water but that has been it. When we toured the islands I asked what is defending this land and it is another dike system similiar to the one that we saw at the beginning of the week. Ironically, at this time they are discussing the increase in sea level so there is a debate as to how high they should make the dike system. It was astonishing to see the extent of property in an area so vulnerable and they are adding more islands. realizing that they don't have hurricanes I can understand but we never had a chance to talk to a real climate change scientist to discuss the potential impacts. They have storms that come from the northwest and that is what destroyed the Netherlands in 1953= De Rampe. I have cool pictures of what the Netherlands would look like today if they did not have dikes. It would be even smaller...you can put four Netherlands into Florida.
We are off to a farewell party now and flying out very early tomorrow morning.
The month has been amazing and the cultural/vocational experiences are a plenty.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Urban Sprawl on the Dutch Scale
yesterday we went to visit the 3rd largest builder in the Netherlands Heijmans. Last year their revenues were $3.6 billion Euros. The development we toured was Haverleij in Den Bosch. The site design went through a number of changes before it was finalized. The first deisgn clustered all the units into one quad next to the river. BUT the developer did not think it was ambitious enough and looked like all the other developments...... so they spread the units all out. CRAZY! There are 9 castles that house multi-family on 500 acres and 1,100 homes. It was a model for intensive use of the land. I asked for more clarification and it was a better more intense use if woodlands. The price per flat ranged from $170,000 euros to $1,450,000 euros. There was no public transportation and the bike ride is 25 minutes into town. Very odd concept. i took some great pictures.
This is my last blog. we are heading to Amsterdam today for a bike tour with a local architect. great fun.
This is my last blog. we are heading to Amsterdam today for a bike tour with a local architect. great fun.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Cap and Trade
We had a brief conversation about cap and trade yesterday. We visited the DMV Campina milk company who is also the 3rd largest producer of milk products in the world. We were there to discuss their waster water etc. but when we saw the smoke stacks in the drawing carbon emissions came up.
In 2005, Campina implemented its cap and trade program. When the cap and trade program was implemented the credits were not auctioned off they were negotiated by the companies and government. Campina had negotiated 130,000 tons knowing that is not what they would need. Last year they only used 106,000 and sold the rest off at $12 Euros per ton. That is 24,000 tons at $288, 000 Euros. The program is administered by the national government to prevent hot spots and have more control over types of industry.
Over time companies are required to reduce their emissions by 2% every year.
Today we are off to Zieland to see the Delta Works.
In 2005, Campina implemented its cap and trade program. When the cap and trade program was implemented the credits were not auctioned off they were negotiated by the companies and government. Campina had negotiated 130,000 tons knowing that is not what they would need. Last year they only used 106,000 and sold the rest off at $12 Euros per ton. That is 24,000 tons at $288, 000 Euros. The program is administered by the national government to prevent hot spots and have more control over types of industry.
Over time companies are required to reduce their emissions by 2% every year.
Today we are off to Zieland to see the Delta Works.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
New and Last Host Family
Today I go to my last host family in Uuden. I am hoping for a nice setup like I had this week but you never know. This coming week will travel to the Delta Works, Zealand and Amsterdam to look at climate adaptation practices. VERY EXCITED.
Energy Neutral City
Yesterday we met with a consultant for the City of Eindhoven. Their objective is to be energy neutral by 2035. They will accomplish this through three programs 1) climate policy 2) sustainable building (like our LEED) and 3) sustainable organization. The Netherlands developed a diagram called Trias Energetica - reduce energy spending, use sustainable energy and burn fossil fuels efficiently. Here are a few examples of programs the city is/has implemented.
Geothermal Energy Storage
The city wants to be the biggest city in the Netherlands to use geothermal for heating and cooling. There are issues associated with geothermal such as neighbors drawing down from the ground water in the wells. So Eindhoven is mapping the system to create a city wide geothermal grid.
Energy Savings Loan
The program has been set up to create a low interest loan from the cities revolving fund to help people with the installation of solar panels. The fund has $300 million Euros for new buildings and $70 million Euros for existing bldgs.
Multi Fuel Gas Stations
Developing fuel stations with options such as bio-fuel, gas, hydrogen and electricity as opposed to just petro.
Bio Energy Plant
Eindhoven has an olympic size pool that many international athletes practice in. The cool thing is the pool is energized by biofuel and then produces enough energy to supply 20 million kwh which is enough for the city buildings. Any additional energy generated is sold back for a premium which the city generates $2 million Euros a year with.
The biofuel used is the fat from animals collected at slaughter houses which is then converted into oil. Talk about using the whole cow.
One long term problem we discussed was the national subsidies. Germany has a revolving fund for their program. But the Netherlands has a cap so when the program gets more popular the less money will be available.
Geothermal Energy Storage
The city wants to be the biggest city in the Netherlands to use geothermal for heating and cooling. There are issues associated with geothermal such as neighbors drawing down from the ground water in the wells. So Eindhoven is mapping the system to create a city wide geothermal grid.
Energy Savings Loan
The program has been set up to create a low interest loan from the cities revolving fund to help people with the installation of solar panels. The fund has $300 million Euros for new buildings and $70 million Euros for existing bldgs.
Multi Fuel Gas Stations
Developing fuel stations with options such as bio-fuel, gas, hydrogen and electricity as opposed to just petro.
Bio Energy Plant
Eindhoven has an olympic size pool that many international athletes practice in. The cool thing is the pool is energized by biofuel and then produces enough energy to supply 20 million kwh which is enough for the city buildings. Any additional energy generated is sold back for a premium which the city generates $2 million Euros a year with.
The biofuel used is the fat from animals collected at slaughter houses which is then converted into oil. Talk about using the whole cow.
One long term problem we discussed was the national subsidies. Germany has a revolving fund for their program. But the Netherlands has a cap so when the program gets more popular the less money will be available.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Bravaria Brewery on the Cutting Edge
Yesterday we went to the Bravaria Brewery. It was founded in 1680 and the 7th generation of men now manage it. They have the freshest water on site because thay have Natural Mineral Water wells they withdraw from. They are a total of 21 wells but 6 are natural mineral water. The surrounding lands are agriculture so there are threats of pesticides and fertilizers. However they are the first private organization to protect their wells. Normally it is only the govt. They pay $600,000 euros a year in taxes to withdraw water. In fact there are only 25 water withdrawal permits in the Netherlands. Farmers do not need them as along as the don't withdrawal more then 10 cubes per hour. Since Bravaria Brewery withdrawals the water it has the potenital to diminish the water source for the surrounding farm lands. So Bravaria pays the farmers for the damages to the crops.
Bravaria's goal is to be ranked number 1 in the world of sustainable breweries. They use 3.8 liters of water to produce 1 liter of beer. The average is 7 liters. At this time they are ranked number 4. Through their waster water process they capture the biogas and use it for energy. Their biological treatment is 4 times cheaper for them to do than to have the govt. do it. They are continuing to impove their process to further reduce water consumption.
Bravaria's goal is to be ranked number 1 in the world of sustainable breweries. They use 3.8 liters of water to produce 1 liter of beer. The average is 7 liters. At this time they are ranked number 4. Through their waster water process they capture the biogas and use it for energy. Their biological treatment is 4 times cheaper for them to do than to have the govt. do it. They are continuing to impove their process to further reduce water consumption.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Planning
Yesterday we went to SRE which is a regional planning organization. Of particular interest were 2 projects.
A local greenway involving 3 villages is planned for 2018. It is 40-50 km long (maybe 2 km wide) and uses water as its anchor. Ecology, quality of life and local economy (tourism) were of highest priority. They are right now targeting farmers that do not have succesors or own a priority parcel. They will move them to already used ag lands or pay them to leave the ag industry. The cost is 30 to 35 million Euros. That is approx. 48 million dollars.
Second project involved a land use plan. There is an estate totalling 2500 hectares. The breakdown is:
1600 hectares of forest
200 hectares of nature
600 hectares of ag
100 hectares of housing
The owner was not generating enough money to maintain the property so he proposed a plan to develop more residential units to sustain the property. He took 150 hectares and split them up into 60 hectares for housing and 90 hectares for ag. Because the property was rural this was a very hot topic. The proposal contained 60 hectares which is approx 148 acres. What was heard and denied by the council was 20 units. They beleived the owner was too greedy and asked for too much. They have since told him that they will entertain 8 units. Talk about penny wise pound foolish. Now the owner could sell the property subdivided. Could you imagine if our elected officials were this strict to the law. WOW
A local greenway involving 3 villages is planned for 2018. It is 40-50 km long (maybe 2 km wide) and uses water as its anchor. Ecology, quality of life and local economy (tourism) were of highest priority. They are right now targeting farmers that do not have succesors or own a priority parcel. They will move them to already used ag lands or pay them to leave the ag industry. The cost is 30 to 35 million Euros. That is approx. 48 million dollars.
Second project involved a land use plan. There is an estate totalling 2500 hectares. The breakdown is:
1600 hectares of forest
200 hectares of nature
600 hectares of ag
100 hectares of housing
The owner was not generating enough money to maintain the property so he proposed a plan to develop more residential units to sustain the property. He took 150 hectares and split them up into 60 hectares for housing and 90 hectares for ag. Because the property was rural this was a very hot topic. The proposal contained 60 hectares which is approx 148 acres. What was heard and denied by the council was 20 units. They beleived the owner was too greedy and asked for too much. They have since told him that they will entertain 8 units. Talk about penny wise pound foolish. Now the owner could sell the property subdivided. Could you imagine if our elected officials were this strict to the law. WOW
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