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  • Sustainability is in our DNA

  • In today's world, technological developments are moving at great speed. People are looking for better ways to live responsibly - not because of the hype, but because of a deep-seated desire to reduce their impact on the world. What was once confined to a niche environmental movement has now become mainstream.

    Many people also choose to adjust their lifestyle to be more responsible in other areas, as well, such as eating responsibly and reducing consumption of scarce materials. At Priva, the principles of living responsibly and doing business responsibly are part of our core ethical code. It's about more than just sorting our waste and recycling.

    Natural and transparent

    "For that matter, we have been separating our industrial waste since the 60s," says Jan Voogt, Facilities Manager at Priva. "Living responsibly and doing business responsibly is in our blood; it's our core business philosophy." So it's no surprise, then, that when Priva's new head office building was built in 2004, we specifically chose as many natural materials as possible. The beautiful Priva Campus building in De Lier is built from wood, glass, and stone sourced from waste material (scoria bricks), and the roof is covered with sedum. "Our office building radiates a natural quality and it is filled with glass, adding a sense of transparency that is reflected in our business dealings."

    Pleasant indoor climate: higher productivity

    No conventional heating and cooling systems have been used in the new Priva Campus. Instead, Priva uses a low-carbon system, whereby heat and cold are stored underground. In the summer, water heated using solar power is stored underground and, in winter, this heat is used to keep the building warm. In winter, it is cold water that is stored underground, and this cooling method keeps the building cool in summer. As a result, the Priva Campus provides a pleasant working environment that can be controlled very precisely from every zone of the building. "A pleasant indoor climate contributes to our employees' productivity," Jan Voogt comments.

  • The lighting in the offices is sensor-controlled, so that the lights only come on when someone is present in a room. In addition, light sensors in the building measure the intensity of the light outside. Depending on the weather outside, the amount of lighting is automatically adjusted.

    Energy savings

    Naturally, the Priva Campus uses a Priva building management system. According to Jan Voogt, major energy savings have been achieved as a result of this system. With the Priva controls in place, the offices in the building remain at a temperature that is consistent year-round.

    The Priva system even controls the windows. If a window is opened somewhere in the building, the system immediately switches off the heating in that section of the building. However, Priva has found that this seldom happens - the indoor climate is so well controlled that it is often nicer indoors than outdoors!

    The building's efficient performance can be seen from its figures, too: it has been classified with the A+ energy label.

    Preserve the planet

    Priva wants to preserve the planet for future generations, and it accepts its responsibility for doing so. This means that the starting point in developing Priva products and services lies in finding ways to reduce our impact on the environment. The solutions that Priva supply give the user the option to most efficiently use scarce natural resources, such as water and energy.

    That is why Priva seeks to cultivate long-term relationships with its dealers, partners and end users; we are looking for likeminded organisations with a commitment to preserving our beautiful planet. "I think we have succeeded in this, but we can always do better, and we have to remain committed in order to keep these developments going," concludes Jan Voogt.

     

     

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