Dominique
The Hague Animal Center Foundation, the oldest animal shelter in the Netherlands, is fully committed to sustainability. In 2023, we installed no fewer than 140 solar panels on our roof and 45 infrared lamps in the dog enclosures. We spoke with Tanja Verkaik from Climate Fund The Hague about this.
With the aforementioned measures, we will save 760,600 kWh of energy and 465,000 kilos of CO₂ emissions over the next ten years. Even more importantly: our animals and volunteers notice the difference immediately. The dog kennels are cozier and we are saving significantly on our energy bill.
“We use more electricity now, but no more gas. We notice that not only in our wallets, but also in the comfort for our animals and staff,” says Jan van Knippenberg, board member for Housing and Sustainability.
What else is on the schedule?
We’re not done yet! Soon we’ll be working on double glazing and a smart solution to better cool the cat enclosures in the summer. This way, we are working step by step towards a completely sustainable building.
Thanks to support
Becoming sustainable is a significant investment. Fortunately, we receive support from organizations such as Stichting Dierenlot, the RVO, and the Climate Fund The Hague. Without that help, we wouldn’t have been able to take these steps, and we are incredibly grateful for it.
Tips for others
For organizations that also want to become more sustainable, we have a few tips:
Hire a professional consultancy firm for larger projects.
Research the possibilities for subsidies and loans.
Don’t forget practical matters, such as good building insurance and upgrading the power connection.
Read the full interview at: https://klimaatfondsdenhaag.nl/voorbeelden/zuinige-terrasverwarmers-houden-asielhonden-warm
