Energy scan at Van Raam by Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam

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Energy scan at Van Raam by Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam

Van Raam \ Innovation
Van Raam
Energy scan at Van Raam by Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam

Sustainable entrepreneurship and saving energy. These are the main goals of the initiative 'Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam' (Achterhoek is a sustainable business). Van Raam has done an energy scan through this initiative to get an idea how much energy we can save and what sustainable measures we can take. Jan-Willem Boezel tells in this article more about the energy scan and the results of the scan.

AOD and sustainability at Van Raam

The initiative AOD (Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam) was created for and by entrepreneurs in the Achterhoek. AOD helps entrepreneurs to be more sustainable and to save energy. This starts with a scan of the company, informative meetings and a master class in which each company is brought into contact with other entrepreneurs in the area to exchange experiences. There are various scans, such as the energy scan and a Sustainable Business Scan, which give the company insight into its energy balance, for example, and insight and advice on sustainability. For the scan, an advisor or specialist visits the company to look at the possibilities. After the scan, the company receives a report with advice.

Jan-Willem Boezel, technical director of Van Raam and chairman of the Varsseveldse Industriële Vereniging (Varsseveld Industrial Association), did not consider the AOD scan useful at first. Van Raam moved in the beginning of 2019 to a brand new building where sustainability is very much taken into account. Jan-Willem tells AOD: "With sustainability we thought of the building, but since we have just built completely new, very sustainable, I didn't think the scan was a good idea at first."

Van Raam did a energy scan by Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam
Jan-Willem Boezel (photo: Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam)

Sustainability is about the entire business process

However, sustainability is not only about the building. Jan-Willem was reminded of this by Otto Willemsen of Duurzaam4Life and project leader for energy transition at the municipality of Bronckhorst, who showed him the other side of sustainability.

Jan-Willem Boezel tells AOD: "Sustainability is very broad. It can be about the personnel, about the process or about the product. Sustainability is not just a solar panel or LED lighting, but it is about the entire business process."

Sustainability at Van Raam - energy scan by AOD
The showroom at Van Raam

Sustainability is not just a solar panel or LED lighting, but it is about the entire business process.

Jan-Willem Boezel

Video: the energiescan at Van Raam

In the video of Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam Jan-Willem Boezel tells more about Van Raam and the energy scan (in Dutch!).

Result of energy scan and policy of Van Raam

At Van Raam it is mainly awareness that came out of the scan. Jan Willem explains: "What do we all mean when we talk about sustainability. What is the difference between cradle to cradle and sustainability." Cradle to cradle is a name for a new view on sustainable design and production.

Van Raam also found out that sustainability is about making money. It is also sustainable to make profit as a company in order to continue to exist.

With the energy scan and awareness of what has come from this, we have created a policy within Van Raam, which we can demonstrate to our customers and staff about what we do in terms of sustainability. Jan-Willem says: "I think that this cannot be expressed in money, but it is a great added value for our company."

Read the interview with Jan-Willem Boezel also on the website of Achterhoek Onderneemt Duurzaam.

Sustainability Van Raam - energy scan by AOD
Van Raam

I think that this cannot be expressed in money, but it is a great added value for our company.

Jan-Willem Boezel
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