According to the law, new school buildings are no longer allowed to use the gas network. The premises will therefore have to be heated by electricity. But that network has been packed for years. This is now causing problems for the new construction of OBS De Zwaan in Zwanenburg and the completely new IKC Buitenplaats Nassaupark in Hoofddorp.
The municipality does not want the opening of the school buildings to be delayed, and is therefore making an exception. “We continue to adhere to our objective of building gas-free schools,” says councilor Beryl van Straten. “But to ensure that children can go to school in the future, this temporary solution is necessary now.”
Gas-free until 2032 at the earliest
The municipality has investigated various solutions for heating the schools, and ultimately settled on installing a temporary gas boiler. The period during which the new buildings will use gas will not be limited to a few months: at the earliest, the municipality does not expect to be able to fully connect the school buildings to the power network until 2032.
“Of course that is a shame,” responds a spokesperson for the Floreer educational foundation. OBS De Zwaan falls under their management. But above all, the foundation is happy that the opening of the school building in Zwanenburg will not be delayed due to the gas connection. “We are pleased that the new building is going according to plan. About four hundred children will use the new building.”