We contribute our part towards a greener future
Sustainability at Van der Valk Hotel Breukelen
Sustainability at Van der Valk Hotel Breukelen
A green future
At Van der Valk Hotel Breukelen, we strive for a sustainable future. We generate sustainable energy and heat using solar panels, cogeneration, and reuse heat from, for example, our kitchen. As a guest, you can also contribute by participating in Hotels for Trees.
Hotels for Trees
Green stay
We offer our guests the opportunity to choose 'green' as well. We encourage guests staying longer than one night to skip the interim room cleaning. When skipping this service, we then plant a tree in collaboration with Hotels For Trees. To further encourage this, we also offer various green-stay packages at a discount. This way we offer our guests a welcoming green experience and support reforestation projects worldwide!
Solar panels
Sustainable
Our hotel proudly uses a large number of solar panels on the roof of our conference center and the annex to generate sustainable energy and reduce our ecological footprint. We are currently investigating how much free space is still available to install more panels. Our goal is to cover an area of approximately 4000m2 with solar panels.
Cogeneration
Generating energy & heat
We use cogeneration, which simultaneously produces both energy and heat. The CHP is powered by a gas-fired engine. This engine drives a generator, which produces electricity. This electricity can then be used for purposes such as lighting in the building. The heat produced is used in the system and is utilized for heating the swimming pool, tap water and air handling.
Kitchen Air Technology (KAT)
Sustainable reuse
In the kitchen, a lot of heat is produced by appliances such as ovens, grills, heat lamps, etc. This residual heat is often vented outside using an extractor hood, and nothing is done with it. The warm air produced in the kitchen is captured by the extractor hood, filtered, and then used in the system to preheat tap water and for air treatment. This way, the residual heat is reused, minimizing waste as much as possible.
Heat pump
Reduce CO₂ emissions
Hotel Breukelen has its own heat pump. When heating the hotel using a heat pump, no gas is consumed as with the use of a central heating boiler. By reducing gas consumption, the CO₂ emissions drastically reduced. By using a heat pump, heat energy is extracted from the environment (water, air, ground). This heat is then released in the form of warmth into the heating system connected to the heat pump.
Building Management System
Sustainable
To prevent heating spaces that are not in use, we have linked our climate system to our room reservation system. This connection reads from our reservation system the times the room is reserved for, in order to heat or cool only during these times. We also use this same connection for the lighting in the rooms.
Isolated pipes
Sustainable
The pipes running through the building are well insulated to retain heat. Originally, this did not apply to the connections. By also insulating the connections and junctions of the piping system, an additional 15% is saved annually by preventing unnecessary heat loss. When installing these "insulation mattresses," we noticed an immediate decrease in room temperature.
Electric charging stations
Reduce CO₂ emissions
There are more and more electric cars on the road, and by driving electrically, the CO₂ emissions are reduced. To encourage electric driving, we have made a part of our premises available for charging electric cars. At the moment, we have 30 Tesla Superchargers and 32 regular charging stations, of which 22 are located in the charging area, 6 at the main entrance, and 4 in the employee parking lot.
Meetings for Trees
Green meeting
In addition to Hotels for Trees, we have also started Meeting for Trees since November 2023. For every green meeting package booked, trees are planted, allowing companies to contribute not only to a greener planet, but also to a part of the CO₂ emissions from their guests. A certificate will be displayed in the meeting room with the number of trees planted for your meeting.