De Haan comes up with energy-saving plan: discussion about ice rinks

The biggest gulp is the public lighting. If we compare July 2022 with July 2021, then the cost is times three. Last winter, the bill rose to 50,000 and even 70,000 euros per month. For the coming winter, the municipality expects to more than double.

Building heating is also skyrocketing: some buildings – usually on gas, sometimes on electricity – cost up to 10,000 euros per month to heat.

Christine Beirens, Alderman for Finance: “Last year the municipality paid 534,914 euros in electricity. For 2022, our financial service expects an invoice of 1,066,000 euros. For gas, we clocked in at 97,772 euros in 2021, now we expect an expenditure of 297,000 euros.”

Deaf lighting

In order to limit energy consumption and the associated costs, the municipality will switch off the public lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., including at weekends. The monument lighting is extinguished and part of the lights in the buildings are extinguished. The lighting in municipal buildings is being replaced by LED at an accelerated pace.

Alderman for the Environment Hilde Dhont: “The temperature in the buildings was lowered to 19°. The temperature in the pool and showers is also lower.” A few buildings of the municipality are temporarily closed. The staff or the associations that are housed there will be given a different place. This is the case, for example, for the building of the prevention service in Stationsstraat.

Discussion point remains the ice rinks

The Christmas lighting has been made entirely of LED lamps for several years now. Consumption last year was about 750 euros. Even with a doubling or tripling, the municipal council considers it desirable to keep the Christmas lights.

Marleen De Soete, Alderman of Evenementen: “The point of discussion remains the ice rinks. We are looking forward to a valuable alternative and will make the decision soon.”

Medium term

Mayor Wilfried Vandaele: “Already 23% of public lighting has been converted to LED. Those lights consume much less, last much longer, and automatically dim to 50% after 24 hours. Two years ago, the municipality made an agreement with Fluvius to switch 100% of the grid to LED by 2030. Last week, Fluvius agreed to bring the end date forward to 2028. In 2022, there was an investment of 335,343 euros in those LEDs, good for a saving of 30.19 MWh and a reduction in emissions of 7 tons of CO2. These efforts will be continued in the coming years. Additional solar panels will be installed on the roofs of municipal buildings, e.g. on the Annexe behind the town hall. A heating and cooling system based on geothermal energy can be installed for the town hall itself.”

Long-term

All municipal buildings were screened and a sheet was drawn up for each building. In many buildings extra insulation, double glazing and new heating installations are needed. To this end, the municipal council is drawing up a multi-year plan, so that these works can be carried out in phases.