News
Press release 18 th January 2010 - NMBS, a responsible company
The railway operator moves towards sustainability.
The most sustainable means of transport is still the train. Rail transport uses less energy and emits less greenhouse gas than road transport. However, as a railway operator the NMBS wants to be a responsible business, and wants to go further than just providing passenger and freight transport. It is also committed to take more responsibility, including supporting various actions on sustainable development.
In 2009, the NMBS did several efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. The NMBS requested the company Delta Advice (1) to make an analysis on its carbon emissions, induced by the traditional greeting cards and gifts during the holiday season.
(1) Delta Advice is an international company specialized in energy, but also in advice on managing carbon. Delta Advice supports organizations in developing specific strategies to reduce the maximum possible carbon impact.
For more information: http://www.b-rail.be/php/presscorp/index.php?lang=N&task=view&id=213
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Press Release 20th January 2010 - Hasselt City Council Awarded the Carbon Trust Standard
Delta Advice is pleased to advise that Hasselt City Council has today become the first organisation outside the UK to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions. A delegation including the Mayor and responsible directors travelled to London to receive the award.
Delta Advice has acted as Hasselt's adviser for the past three years in preparing the city; support has included calculating footprints, assisting in the preparation of carbon management plans, and helping the city through the accreditation process for the Standard.
Harry Morrison, manager of the Carbon Trust Standard company, praised Hasselt's achievement: "In the period we have assessed, Hasselt has saved more than 200tes of co2; these are significant savings."
Hasselt's Mayor, Hilde Claes, said she was very pleased with the certificate. "We are allowed to use the logo for two years, after which we will be assessed again. Our ambition is to do even better in the future. We plan to involve our stakeholders even more in our continuing campaign to reduce carbon. Delta Advice has provided us with fantastic support guiding us through the whole process".
Gunter Walmagh, Director of Delta Advice, said: "The award of the first Carbon Trust Standard for a Continental European city is richly deserved recognition of Hasselt's efforts to cut carbon emissions so far. We know that Hasselt is ambitious to continue the progress to be an even lower carbon city for the benefit of its citizens and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them as they take their efforts towards even greater goals."
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For more information
http://www.hasselt.be/nl/press-cats/49/carbon-trust-standard.html
http://www.carbontruststandard.com
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Press release 4th January 2011 - Hasselt launches its own energy company
The city of Hasselt focuses this year on its own energy company. In autumn, the first actions will already be launched and from 2012 the new company should be running at cruising speed.
"It is our intention to make from Hasselt a CO2-neutral city, "said Michiel Liefsoens (SP.A). "Eventually we want to produce as much green energy as we consume. "
"We want to set a good example and a catalyst for both our residents and businesses in our territory," says Michiel Liefsoens.
"We want to help even from our energy company Hasselt other cities and possibly the provincial government plan to involve. We will start up the energy company in the same form as the autonomous municipal company. In Belgium a similar formula exists in Merksplas. In the Netherlands, cities like Amsterdam and Apeldoorn have similar formulas run. "
Tenants
"Our aim is to guarantee supply for Hasselt, at local level, to match supply and demand and build windmills, solar farms and so ..., "says Mayor Hilde Claes.
"We even want to cluster citizens and companies around places of production of green energy. We also want that inhabitants of Hasselt can buy stocks in order to invest in green energy.
I myself have signed a European Covenant of Mayors in which we say to be energy neutral by 2020. That's why we, as from now, convert on the production of renewable energy and make it available to everyone. We also want for example give tenants access to green energy through the construction of the central fields.
That way we can create jobs in own region and the capital of the inhabitants of Hasselt remains to invest in this energy. Within the city we want in the future switch to electric or hybrid cars.
To make it feasible different electric charging stations will be provided at various locations in the city. Our goal is absolutely not to make profits. The revenues that flow from there anyway, we mainly be used for energy utilities in public housing. "
Collaboration with UHasselt and Cleantech
The Energy company of Hasselt gets different partners. Gunter Walmagh form Delta Advice helped the city already with the Carbon Trust Standard and is now involved party.
"The city of Hasselt should continue efforts to limit emissions. The city wants to work with partners like UHasselt, Cleantech, Province, Flemish government, Europe, LRM, Limburg.net, Luminus and Infrax. "
MORE INFO
Gunter Walmagh