In this very first installment of the 'Merry Construction News' section, builder Walther Dingemans of VDZ projects puts personnel and craftsmanship in the spotlight. "Every detail is worked on extremely hard."
Walther, to get right to the point: You wanted to highlight a renovation project because it makes you happy. What kind of project is it exactly?
"It involves the renovation of a hopelessly outdated 1984 property in the outlying area between Tilburg and Udenhout. This home renovation shows that you can transform existing homes from the 1980s into extremely energy-efficient, comfortable and future-proof homes. This is badly needed, because most of our existing housing stock is far from sustainable. This project proves that it please visitcan, and so it absolutely deserves a stage.
"The renovation even brings the house up to EnerPHit level, the passive house standard for existing construction from the Passive House Institute. To achieve that, we put a shell of flax hemp around it, which insulates it very well, and also allows us to give the outside a redesign. The house will have triple glazing and balanced ventilation with heat recovery. This will make it a home with extremely low energy consumption, a stable indoor climate and a comfortable living experience in summer and winter."
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Why does this project make you happy?
"This is the kind of project that shows where craftsmanship meets sustainability and passion. From both builder and resident. I see how hard work goes into every detail.
"Not only do you make a home more beautiful and comfortable, but you really contribute to the energy transition. And what I also find very valuable is that the short chain is restored between farmer and builder. For example, the insulation material for the walls, the flax hemp, is grown sustainably with the concept 'From land to property'. This offers lots of opportunities for the agricultural sector to produce sustainable crops.
"And it's just really nice that the residents are directly involved in the realization and consciously choose to invest as much as possible sustainably. You get energy from that."
What's special about construction and installation?
"We are working with a smart building envelope design, making the most of the existing structure, while at the same time making the home completely upgrade to the requirements of the future. The connection between building components is precisely designed to prevent thermal bridges, something that is often difficult in practice during renovations. The detailing has been worked out to perfection - this is the level at which EnerPHit becomes possible.
"In terms of installation, the home will have a balanced ventilation system with heat recovery. This ensures healthy air in the house without heat loss. In addition, the entire installation system is aimed at all-electric, with very low energy consumption. The house is prepared for an extremely low heat demand. You hardly need to heat a home like that."
Why is the project being done this way?
"Because it's necessary. Only with a rigorous approach can you make really big strides in energy performance. Tightness, insulation, thermal bridge-free construction and the right installations are not luxuries. They are essential if we want to move towards a sustainably built environment. The EnerPHit method provides a clear, science-based route to success in this regard."
What is innovative about this project?
"Very few existing homes in the Netherlands have been renovated to this level. EnerPHit requires an extremely high level of ambition and a lot of technical knowledge. This project shows that in the Netherlands we now have both the knowledge and the people to do it. so it is no longer a pilot, but a workable model.
"The whole sector can see here that real sustainability of existing homes is possible, without compromising on comfort or quality. This project is an example of what happens when you bring professionals, good planning and a clear ambition together. It is also a wake-up call: only by renovating really well can we make a difference."
Is the project really that sustainable?
"Sure! After the renovation, up to ninety percent energy will be saved on heating. In fact, no fossil energy will need to be used at all. We use sustainable, vapor-permeable materials, and because of the high-quality construction, it has a long lifespan. Moreover, it contributes to well-being through the healthy indoor climate. Not to mention, the house is prepared for climate change, for more heat and more moisture."
Is it also affordable?
"An EnerPHit renovation is certainly not the cheapest option. but it delivers huge long-term savings in energy costs and maintenance. In addition, living comfort increases greatly and the home increases in value. Thanks to subsidies and forms of financing - such as National Heat Fund - this type of renovation is becoming increasingly accessible.
"So my call is to think even more carefully about a different way of financing the sustainable investment in the home. At the front end of the process, i.e. renovation, it costs more. But over time the costs actually decrease and I dare say that on balance there will be a positive end result. "
Walther Dingemans and his team
Walther Dingemans is a passive house re-designer. Together with his two sons, he runs VDZ Projects in Rijen, Brabant, a small-scale construction company that focuses on people- and environment-friendly construction and renovation. In 2020, he received the Vakwerk Award in the sustainable building category and was named a Vakambassador. VDZ Projects. VDZ Projecten is the executor of the renovation in Tilburg.
But Walther is with VDZ Projects not the only one working on the project. "I also want to highlight Antonie Wong. He did the indispensable PHPP calculations. Walther Junior for his craftsmanship with the building envelope and everything around it. Mike de Haas as an expert in blow-in insulation and air sealing. And finally David de Visser and Guido Bouwman, two young enthusiastic passive house craftsmen with a passion for perfection. They show that the future of sustainable building has already begun!"
About Merry Construction News
The world is gloomy enough as it is, so we ask our readers what makes them happy. In the “Cheerful Construction News” section, they share why a project, a tool, or a way of working gets them excited. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it brightens up even a dreary Tuesday morning.
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