Sustainable building

'Society that's you'. A high-profile campaign by Sire in the late 1990s. More than 15 years ago, but still topical. The message behind this campaign was that it is very easy to blame society, because after all, we form that society ourselves. And don't we all want a sustainably built Netherlands that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy? Sustainable building is more than just saving energy. Sustainable building is also taking into account the burden on the environment and the well-being of people.

So we are all doing it together. But it is not easy to build or remodel sustainably at a time when business owners has less to spend and banks are not so keen on lending money.

On the other hand, the crisis - which now seems to be behind us - has made people creative and innovative. From my construction law practice, I have had the privilege of seeing a number of such innovations put into practice. For example, more than ever, construction is using materials that minimize environmental impact and reusing materials - sometimes in very artful ways - such as concrete that is crushed into granules and then reused for new construction. As business owner , you have the option of contractually imposing such things on your contractor. For example, tenders regularly require the use of FSC-certified wood or its equivalent. You thus contribute to the protection of forests.

Important in today's time - for sale or rentability - is to make properties "flexible. If your property becomes vacant, you have the opportunity to utilize it in other ways. This also gives you an advantage over your competition. Consider before you begin, so think carefully about short- and long-term use before you build or renovate a property.

Many heat and cold storage (CHP) systems are also being installed, and more recently contractors are also building "passive houses" or even "zero on meter houses. The latter two often involve a combination of alternative energy generation, along with, for example, very good insulation and sunlight orientation. Such energy-saving measures are mostly sustainable, but do require an additional investment, which, if all goes well, you can recoup with lower energy consumption. Less "traditional" energy consumption is nice, but if you do not recoup the investment or heat or cool the property as quickly as you find comfortable, it misses the mark. For example, I had to assist a property owner in a dispute with a contractor because the property with WKO system was not heating up and it was about ten degrees inside. So you need to discuss well what you are getting, what the pros and cons are, and if possible, you need to establish efficiencies. Although, of course, energy costs will still depend on your own use.

In short, with sustainable remodeling or building you contribute to society today and tomorrow, but do so thoughtfully, because only then is it sustainable! And a tip, if you are considering sustainable building: also look at the subsidies offered by the government.