BGGD #20 Location: Big Blue
On 14 November 2009, Van Marcke Belgium opened Big Blue, the first renovated industrial CO2 neutral building in Belgium/
Big Blue, is really an information and sales center, devoted to energy-friendly solutions for heating and water. Within this climate center, Van Marcke brings together all know-how and all stakeholders involved in energy-friendly solutions for heating and water.
The building itself is a prime example of energy-conscious renovation. The former industrial depot, covering 1,500 m 2 in surface area, was completely renovated, refurbished and converted into a CO 2 -neutral building.
The building complies with the latest passive-house standards: neither fuel oil nor natural gas are used for heating purposes. All electrical power for heating, ventilation and lighting is derived from solar energy. The water for the sanitary facilities comes from an installation that collects rainwater from the roof and filters it.
The driving force and designers of Big Blue are Van Marcke family, which consulted climate expert Serge De Gheldere, the head of FutureProofed.
Belgian consumers can make a difference.
The high levels of energy and water consumption of private homes in Belgium is weighing down heavily on the planet’s climate conditions. Our residential homes produce 31% of total carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium. They are the second largest polluter, preceded only by industry (35%) and followed by transport (18%).
Taking a closer look at the carbon dioxide emissions generated by your average Belgian family, 31% of emissions are found to derive from energy consumption and, looking even closer, the biggest culprits are heating and hot water, representing 24.6% of total CO2 emissions.
Belgians do not stint on drinking water either: 52% of the mains (drinking) water consumed by the average Belgian household could be perfectly replaced by rainwater. Here, the principal water-guzzlers are: the toilet (31%), the washing-machine (12%) and water for house cleaning and garden maintenance (9%).
Caroline Van Marcke, member of the Board of Directors of the Van Marcke Group:
“These figures make it abundantly clear that every household can actively join in working towards protecting the climate. By opting for sustainable solutions in the areas of heating and water, their individual efforts are certain to make a big difference in due course. Which is exactly why it is of vital importance for us to provide consumers with correct, concrete and easily comprehensible information and guidance.
all.”