5. Organization

5.1 Road Rally

Commuting accounts for a large portion of our municipality’s CO₂ emissions. That’s why we came up with a campaign to encourage employees to commute to work in a more sustainable way. This became the Commute Rally. 
During the Travel Rally, employees competed in teams to get to City Hall as sustainably as possible in September and October. With this initiative, we want to show that small changes—such as biking, walking, carpooling, or taking public transportation—can have a significant impact when combined. In this way, the municipality aims to reduce its own emissions and also show residents how they can travel more sustainably. 

5.2 MVOI

As a municipality, we make a lot of purchases. We want to do this as sustainably as possible. That is why, in early 2025, we organized a two-day meeting to develop a plan for this together with our colleagues. The result was the Action Plan for Socially Responsible Contracting and Procurement (MVOI). With this plan, we have established clear goals and concrete actions.

Following this, we organized a workshop for colleagues who frequently handle procurement, such as for lighting, landscaping, and sewer systems. During this workshop, we explained what MVOI stands for and how colleagues can apply it in their work. Colleagues received practical tips on making conscious and sustainable choices. We also emphasized that everyone’s contribution is important to achieving our goals.

We are now continuing to work on implementing MVOI throughout the entire organization. We are integrating MVOI into our work processes, helping teams with sustainable procurement, and monitoring progress.
In this way, we are taking steps toward a future-proof and responsible way of working. 

5.3 VTC Wamel

Thanks in part to financial support from the municipality, we were Wamel renovate the VTC in Wamel . The building now has HR++ glass or better. The walls are also well insulated. As a result, the building uses significantly less energy.

There are 170 solar panels on the roof. These generate a large portion of the electricity needed. All rooms are heated using modern air conditioning units. These provide heat quickly and save energy. As a result, the building no longer needs gas.

The final step is to install a battery so they can store the electricity they generate and use even more of it. 

5.4 Climate Week

From November 10 through 16, we participated in Climate Week. During this week, the municipality organized a variety of activities. These included a climate safari through Alphen, free energy advice from an energy coach, learning through the water table, and free measuring cups available at City Hall. It was a week in which we asked residents to reflect on the environment.