Sustainable Buildings with Long-term Responsibility
The Gelders Huis town hall in Arnhem and courthouse in Breda are two prominent government buildings in the Netherlands managed by VolkerWessels Real Estate Management. The installations in these buildings were implemented under the supervision of Homij (Hanab Installation Technology) and are maintained based on a DBMO contract (Design, Build, Maintain & Operate).
While regular contracts involve maintenance based on annual intervals, a DBMO contract focuses on the performance of the building and installations over a period of 20 to 30 years. The premise is, therefore, not ‘we will come once a year to maintain your installations and you pay X amount for that’, but rather ‘we ensure that your building and installations perform at a certain level throughout the entire contract, and you pay X amount for it’. This requires sustainable choices, reliable installations, and structural energy efficiency.
Sustainability and Cost Savings
According to Derk Burggraaff, contract manager at VolkerWessels Vastgoedbeheer, this type of contract offers many opportunities:
“On the one hand, you take on a lot of risk with this type of contract because you assume the role of owner of a building for 20 years. It involves much more responsibility. On the other hand, it also brings many opportunities. You have a lot of freedom to make your own choices and thus 20 years to improve a building in terms of sustainability, cost savings, and efficiency. Ultimately, this benefits both us and our client.”
First Project with Nanowave Air Filters by Vlint
Energy-Efficient Filtration in Air Handling Units
One of the improvements implemented was the installation of Nanowave air filters from Vlint. These advanced filters are designed to offer high filtration efficiency with minimal air resistance, requiring less energy for the filter system. An excellent choice for reducing energy consumption and lowering costs. The first project commenced at the Gelders Huis Arnhem, where two air handling units were equipped with Nanowave filters to test the performance in practice.
Practice as the Ultimate Test
From Theory to Proven Results
Olaf Schipper, Filtration Product Manager at Vlint: “Although the Nanowave filter has obviously been thoroughly tested and we have full confidence in our product, the true test is the implementation with our customers and the results that this subsequently yields.”
A Special Moment
For Vlint, the implementation at Gelders House Arnhem was a special moment, as it was the first project where the Nanowave filters were installed. “That's quite exciting.”
Result: 50% energy savings and rapid payback period
Measurable results after 200 days
Although Nanowave filters are more expensive to purchase than standard filters, they quickly pay for themselves thanks to energy savings. After a 200-day test period, the results were analyzed. The outcome:
Scaling Up to Multiple Government Buildings
Based on the successful results, not only the entire Gelders Huis in Arnhem but also the entire building of the Breda Courthouse was equipped with Nanowave filters. Both building owners, the Central Government Real Estate Agency and the Province of Gelderland, have high requirements for sustainability and energy consumption. With the implementation of Nanowave filters, a significant improvement has been made in this regard.
The benefits are clear:
Want to save on energy in your building too?
Do you also want to reduce energy consumption, save costs, and improve the performance of air handling systems? Vlint thinks along, advises, and provides peace of mind. Contact us and discover what Nanowave filters can mean for your building, project, or installation.
With our Total Life Cycle Cost (TLCC) Check, we provide a potential cost calculation for your location or project. Leave your details below, and we will contact you to calculate your savings.
