International visit for POCITYF in the city of Alkmaar
This week, all participating cities in the European project POCITYF will meet in the city of Alkmaar (Netherlands). Officials and organisations applying sustainable solutions in Évora (Portugal), Bari (Italy), Celje (Slovenia), Granada (Spain), Hvidovre (Denmark), Ioannina (Greece) and Újpest (Hungary) will watch and learn from all the sustainable developments in ‘POCITYF’ Alkmaar. All with the same goal: making old cities sustainable while preserving the original cityscape.
Alkmaar smarter, greener and more liveable
The POCITYF project was launched to make old cities like Alkmaar greener, smarter and more liveable. Together with the Portuguese city of Évora, Alkmaar is a ‘lighthouse city’ or model city. POCITYF aims to realise ‘energy positive’ buildings or areas. This means that buildings produce more sustainable energy than they use themselves.
The POCITYF project is being carried out in Alkmaar by the municipality of Alkmaar, New Energy Coalition, housing corporations Van Alckmaer and Woonwaard, InVesta, Firan, Neroa, InHolland, TNO, HCV and Connexxion.
Being part of project POCITYF ensures that we are an example in the energy transition. As a municipal organisation, we constantly want to make our buildings more sustainable. The energy-positive sports building “De Meent” is an example of that. Participation of residents in various phases of sustainable projects is an important success factor in this.
Alderman for Sustainability Christian Schouten
Get to know some of the highlights of POCITYF Alkmaar
Circularly isolated homes in the Bloemwijk neighbourhood
‘To provide pleasant, energy-efficient and affordable housing in a comfortable living environment’ is the mission of housing corporation Van Alckmaer for the new Bloemwijk neighbourhood. A total of over 160 homes will be demolished in the area. These will be replaced by new homes and apartments, of which 11 single-family houses and 42 apartments will be built within the POCITYF project. The houses are isolated using circular isolation material, the roofs are fitted with solar panels and heat pumps provide heating and hot water. In addition, five houses have batteries to store electricity and use it later.
POCITYF bloemwijk
Heating with an ice machine at sports facility “De Meent”
As many as 2,650 solar panels have been installed at sports facility “De Meent”. The electricity generated by the solar panels is stored in a battery. With the help of the POCITYF grant, a special heating system has also been realised at the sports facility: the system uses the residual heat from the ice machine of the ice rink to provide the sports facility with heat and cold. The building also has sustainable cooling and an energy network that regulates energy production and consumption as smartly as possible. This makes “De Meent” a leading sustainable example for other (sports) buildings.
POCITYF De Meent 2
Less energy for the Noordertogt apartment building
As many as 910 solar panels have been installed on the roof and on the front facade of the apartment building on Van de Veldelaan in the city of Alkmaar by housing corporation Woonwaard. The solar panels generate 100% of the electricity needed for the flat. To save energy, the roof was isolated with circular roofing and the heating and ventilation systems were improved. Additionally, the surplus of electricity produced by the solar panels on the end wall is stored in two batteries. This way, the sustainable electricity can still be used at a later moment for the central facilities in the building (lighting and elevators).
POCITYF Noordertogt 2
Together with the people of Alkmaar
Besides all the sustainable renovations, POCITYF is also about involving residents in sustainability. For example through the so-called TIPPING method; a special way in which Alkmaar entrepreneurs and residents who are active in various sectors come up with ideas together. Furthermore, the municipality, together with Junior IOT, organises competitions around sustainability for children. This spring, for instance, the project ‘School reinventing Cities’ will start. Primary school pupils will make the old gas site on Helderseweg self-sufficient in terms of energy, food and building in the computer programme Minecraft.
Learn more about the project on the POCITYF website:
