Zeist Fire Department

Making a fire station more sustainable – why is that important? For the Utrecht Safety Region (VRU), the answer is clear: future-proof buildings lower energy costs, improve the working environment and contribute to the energy transition. In collaboration with the municipality of Zeist and our partner Unica, the fire station was made gas-free and energy-efficient, without compromising safety and operational readiness.

“A sustainable fire station not only means a lower energy bill, but also a healthier working environment and a positive impact on the energy transition,” says John de Vries, facility manager at the VRU. “This project shows that sustainability and functionality can go hand in hand.” What started as a simple assignment – disconnecting the fire station from the gas supply – grew into an innovative sustainability project. The challenge? To realize an energy-efficient building, within the existing grid capacity and while adhering to strict safety standards.

The challenge

Several obstacles had to be overcome during the sustainability project at the fire station in Zeist:

• Limited grid capacity: The connection could not be increased, and generated solar energy could not be fed back into the grid.
• Strict safety standards: Energy storage in batteries had to meet additional safety standards.
• No underground storage: Alternatives such as geothermal storage were not possible due to the lead time.
• Budget & efficiency: The sustainability project had to be not only sustainable, but also financially feasible.

Through an integrated approach and smart technologies, Unica, together with the VRU and the municipality of Zeist, managed to realize a future-oriented and feasible solution. All work was carried out in a fire station where operations had to run 24/7. Part of that approach was gaining insight into the flexibility of energy consumption. A scan such as the Energy Scan Grid Congestion, combined with Tibo’s Energy Simulation Software, helps to better match grid capacity and smartly absorb consumption peaks.

The choice to become more sustainable was not only prompted by legal obligations, but also by a broader vision of future-proof real estate. The Utrecht Safety Region is committed to energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in its real estate portfolio. The fire station in Zeist serves as an example for other fire stations and government buildings. “A sustainable fire station not only means lower energy costs, but also a healthier working environment and a positive contribution to the energy transition,” says John.

The solutions

In close collaboration with the VRU and the municipality of Zeist, Unica realized an integrated approach that resulted in a future-proof fire station. The measures:

• Solar panels & energy storage: The roof will be equipped with solar panels and an energy storage system (EOS) 100 kWh, which stores excess energy.
• Heat pumps: The existing chiller was at 2/3 of its lifespan and has been replaced by a heat pump. The hot tap water is generated by a heat pump boiler in combination with solar collectors, and three additional heat pumps have been installed for heating.
• Heat recovery: The ventilation of the turnout garage is equipped with heat recovery. Air quality-controlled ventilation has been installed in the rooms with variable occupancy. The floors that are not in use outside office hours are throttled on the air side outside office hours, so that this extra air does not have to be moved and conditioned.
• Smart energy management: An Energy Management System (EMS) coordinates all installations and prevents unnecessary load on the power grid.
• LED lighting & automation: Smart lighting with sensors reduces energy consumption and increases comfort.
• Panel construction: A new main distribution panel for the energy distribution was realized by our panel construction specialists from Unica Building Projects. In collaboration with Unica Building Services Hoevelaken, we designed, built and connected it completely customized on location. The main distribution panel is prepared for the increase in electrical installations, including heat pumps and electric cooking facilities. This is how we ensure a future-proof electrical infrastructure, in line with the sustainability of the building.

With these measures, the fire station remains operational, sustainable and cost-efficient. Because a completely gas-free solution was not yet feasible, the central heating system remains operational as a backup for the very coldest days.

The result

The impact of this sustainability project is immediately noticeable:

• 90 percent less gas consumption: The fire station is almost completely gas-free
• Energy saving without grid reinforcement: Smart storage prevents peak loads. Take a look how Interflow achieved a similar result, operating within a capacity-limiting contract while realising their production growth and decarbonisation ambitions.
• Real-time insight into energy consumption: A dashboard continuously shows the performance of the installations.
• Better working environment: Smart ventilation and temperature control increase working comfort