News 19 November 2020 certificate holder highlighted
Van Gelder realises a thousand tons of CO2 reduction on project and measures this in real time
Contractor company Van Gelder, level 5 certified on the CO2 Performance Ladder, has developed a dashboard in which the CO2 emissions and reduction of a project are calculated in real time. The innovative dashboard was used for the first time in the Collaboration Agreement (SOK) Great Works with the municipality of Amsterdam. This week it became clear that no less than 1000 tons of CO2 reduction has been achieved during the major maintenance of roads in Amsterdam.
One thousand tons of CO2 can be compared to the emissions of 7,000 people flying to Paris or the burning of 338,000 liters of diesel. In Amsterdam, Van Gelder is fully committed to working without emissions. This resulted in a CO2 saving of almost 70% compared to traditional activities. With this, Amsterdam has already more than achieved its climate target of 2030 (<48% savings compared to 1990) on Van Gelder's works.
Electrical equipment
The largest result in Amsterdam was achieved by the electrification of the equipment. For example, an electric excavator "the Ecodigger" is used and all equipment that is not electric drive on biobased diesel. In terms of asphalt, sustainable asphalt mixtures are used, including a top layer of 60% recycled material. But all other materials used are also being examined to see whether they can be even more environmentally friendly. By working with sustainable asphalt mixtures, less material is needed for the same construction and therefore less transport. All this contributes to much less CO2 emissions.
Walk ahead
Van Gelder is the first contractor to measure real-time progress towards sustainability goals. The data-driven dashboard gives the company complete control over its CO2 emissions. The real-time measurement of CO2 reduction is only the beginning, according to Van Gelder. In the meantime, work is being done on making nitrogen deposition measurable. Van Gelder wants to be at the forefront of the market and really improve by analyzing data from the past and continuously adjusting it. Last year the company invested another five million euros in sustainable equipment.