CTO Assessment - European Commission

ÅLBORG
Clean City - Green City
Contact: Bodil Henningson • Vesterbro 14 • DK 9000 Ålborg • Denmark
Tel: +45 99 313131 • Fax: +45 99 31 23 22
E-mail: bvh-teknik@aalbkom.dk
The city of Ålborg has been promoting environmental
awareness since the “Clean
City –Green City” campaign. With regards
to town planning, the city council has authorised
a programme of actions tackling
various areas of sustainable and ecological
development. The renovation of
Danmarksgade, a district located in the
centre of Ålborg, was completed during
2000. The project consisted in the renovation
of four blocks, built at the turn of the
century and the Public Louise Square. The
square is central and gives exceptional visibility
to the ecological measures taken.
Qualified research firms, SBS Byfornyelse,
a private company co-coordinating the
technical and organizational aspects of
urban renovation projects throughout
Denmark, collaborated with the
municipality of Denmark and the Danish
Housing Minister.
The Project
The main objective of the project was to
increase awareness of RES and ecological
issues. The project also aimed at
showcasing the renovation of buildings in
a sustainable way, presenting new technologies
and solutions.
The concept of themed houses and workshops
each focusing on different aspects
of sustainability and RES implementation
was the main innovative aspect.
The project was divided into six concepts:
The Green Space: To improve the green
areas of Danmarksgade starting with
the new layout of Louise Square.
The Yellow House: Installed exemplary
energy saving and RES technologies into
an old town house, including PV panels,
solar collectors, triple glazing, low consumption
and high performance appliances.
The objective was to reduce energy
consumption by 30%.
The Blue House: Installed innovative
techniques of water storage, the goal is
to reduce water consumption by 30%.
The technologies used are a water wall
that purifies the used shower water, used
water toilets and rainwater for laundry.
The New Ecology Construction frame
concept: A twenty-six unit social housing
was built and used 30% less resources
in construction than a conventional
building of the same proportions.
A series of workshops were created to
showcase these measures.
The Public Spaces frame concept: proposals,
which examine how to best utilize
common open space. Four ecological
open spaces have been completed
during the project.
The Retrofitting frame concept: to introduce
as many ecological and environmentally
friendly, technically tested and
financially viable measures in urban renewal.
Key facts of the project
Overall evaluation
All of the projects were successfully implemented
except the water wall, which is still
not in use. The square is now well used by
local residents and hosts major public
events, like an ecological market. Experience
shows so far that the residents of the
pilot projects participate actively in getting
new technologies to work. However,
despite the interest shown and even though
subsidies are available it is still hard to
reach a final agreement concerning the
application of the Rehabilitation frame
concept to housing stock improvements or
private urban renewal.
The methods used in the two houses put
the project five to ten years ahead of its
time. The first partial results of the evaluation
programme show room for improvement.
The Yellow House heating consumption
has dropped by 30% but the energy
consumption has risen to 29 kWh/ (m 2 a).
Challenges
The biggest difficulties occurred with the
use of water saving technologies, which had
been altered many times. The water wall is
still not in operation. In case of any public
complaints or inquires and to keep the local
population involved, citizens had the
possibility to voice their opinions two afternoons
per week at the info center
Lousiegard.
Replication Potential
Innovative technologies used can provide
working examples for interested parties.
The Retrofitting and Public Spaces frame
concepts provide results, which can contribute
to new directions and new standards
in urban renewal. Many municipalities,
including Copenhagen, have taken up
the Ålborg model.
Improved layout and content of the Louise Square
30% less heating consumption in Yellow House
30% water saving in Blue House
30% less resources used in construction of social housing unit
Four ecological open spaces completed
Generated local interest
58 CTO - Showcase