Early October 2019, a number of councilors from the municipality of Utrecht visited Kanaleneiland-Zuid, a neighborhood hosting many of the IRIS project’s sustainable and co-creation initiatives. The members gained insight into how the IRIS partners work together on sustainable and affordable living in the neighborhood. Elements of the program were a visit to a sustainable model home and the festive launch of the first vehicle-to-grid charging station and electric shared car in the neighborhood.
Sustainable pilot homes from Bo-Ex
The councilors visited the Bo-Ex model home on Columbuslaan. This sustainable test house shows residents and citizens how the flats will be refurbished and, for example, go from energy label D to A +. The council members gained insight into the issues at play in the neighborhood and the solutions that IRIS offers.
Unique ‘Vehicle 2 Grid’ car share system
Then it was time for the official commissioning of the first We Drive Solar electric sharing car and a brand new bidirectional charging station in Kanaleneiland. This Smart Solar Charging station can both charge and discharge electric vehicles, so that they are an active part of smart energy networks. Residents of Kanaleneiland can take out a We Drive Solar subscription, with which they can use the electric shared car and contribute to the unique charging system.
Robin Berg, director of LomboXnet, was assisted at the festive opening by four pupils from primary school De Kaleidoskoop. The children were allowed to ask questions to the municipal councilors, which they made full use of. The council members themselves seemed to be just as enthusiastic about the IRIS developments in the neighborhood, as can be seen in the tweet from councilor Maarten Koning about the innovative cooperation in Kanaleneiland.
25 Oct 2019