39 Water meters read automatically In 2018 real-estate investor Vesteda started placing automatic water meters to carefully monitor water use as they do not always have access to their water connections. Meter-reading specialist Smartvatten installed a specially-developed camera that they can install on the water meter without a technician. The cameras send a reading every minute to an online portal for monitoring. Green walk A number of residents in Amsterdam Zuid initiated a ‘Groene Wandeling’, or green walk. The walk passes through sixteen noteworthy areas including the city garden near sub-district Beethoven, the garden at Circl, the Beatrixpark, the Botanical garden at the VU Amsterdam and the cemetery RK Begraafplaats Buitenveldert. On request the residents organised a number of walks in 2018. In addition, the folder they designed can be found on the Zuidas website, so everybody can visit the green areas without a guide. Mahlerplein nominated for tree project After a redesign and the building of the underground bicycle parking garage in 2017, the Mahlerplein was made more attractive with trees and grass lawns. An investigation into the wind around the Zuidplein however, showed that a closed crown of trees would improve the climate there, so Mahlerplein was planted with large trees. The individual trees are surrounded by natural stone enclosures that can be used as benches and to relax on. Grass mats were laid down to increase the green atmosphere and to encourage recreation under the trees. Industry association VHG awards a ‘Tree project of the year’. National tree association National Bomenbank (NBB) that also works in Zuidas nominated the Mahlerplein. The prize was awarded in 2018 to Pius Floris for a project in Venlo. Preserving trees in Beethoven A temporary bicycle path was placed in sub-district Beethoven in 2018. The bicycle path winds its way through the trees. Three trees were in the way but instead of cutting them down a solution was found for each tree. The bicycle path goes around one tree, the second tree is now in the middle of the path and a bridge was built to keep the third tree. Plants in RAI Amsterdam Plant enclosures have been set up at the RAI Strand Zuid location. A double row of conifers are already growing there. In addition, new street covering has been laid down and around the trees, new plants with different types of ivy and perennials. New trees in Vijfhoek At the Vijfhoek 68 trees of all types were planted in early December. They include Photo: Botanische Tuin Zuidas climbing trees such as prunus that have multiple trunks and low branches, but also the extraordinary scarlet oak that has a beautiful red autumnal colour. More care for trees Due to the dry summer the plants around Zuidas needed extra care. The sunlight was so strong at times that tree leaves burned. Extra water was given in many places. Most of the green areas were saved but not all. Many of the trees in mobile containers died for example. Inside the scope of the ‘quality in all phases’ policy, Zuidas has around 30 mobile containers for trees. These containers can be moved to provide greenery in areas that are under construction. In 2017 120 trees were planted on the eastern side of the De Boelelaan. Much work was made to make the young trees take root. All the trees received extra water from April onwards. Because the ground water level is at 1.5 metres depth the trees needed the helping hand. The extra attention worked and all 120 elm trees are doing well. Water conscious at the Ronald McDonald House The Ronald McDonald House in the VUmc receives parents whose children are being cared for at the university hospital Amsterdam UMC – VUmc location. The House took a number of steps to be more sustainable in 2018 such as making guests more aware of water use. All showers have a timer with a sticker that states ‘Many of our guests reuse their towels’. Taking shorter showers saves the environment and donated money. The Zuidas vegetable garden A highlight of the ‘public green’ in Zuidas is the vegetable patch from Michelin-star restaurant Bolenius on the Gershwinlaan. To keep their garden producing in the winter they plant kale shortly before winter. The kale is used partly in the restaurant and, after blooming in the early spring, the plants are used as animal feed at the city farm in the nearby Amstelpark. Week without meat Members of Green Business Club Zuidas such as VU Amsterdam (Sodexo), Accenture (ISS), and ABN AMRO (Vermaat) joined the national ‘Week Zonder Vlees’ (Week without Meat), campaign in 2018. During the week of 5 March they served no meat in their office restaurants. Companies and individuals could register through the campaign website. It was the first national week without meat and the campaign will be repeated in 2019. By not eating meat for a week an individual saves 130 litres of water and 3.3 kg of CO2. Japanese gardens redesign The botanical garden Zuidas is one of the few botanical gardens in The Netherlands to have an authentic Japanese garden. Working under Japanese expert guidance, volunteers redesigned the garden in 2018 for a reopening in July. Bees at Accenture Starting in the summer of 2018 two bee populations are living on the rooftop terrace on the sixteenth floor of the Accenture offices. They were placed by Workplace and ISS. Accenture wants to create awareness for climate change and bees play an important part. Climate change is causing bee populations to decline while they play an extremely important role in the ecosystem. The honey that the bees make is served in the office espresso bar. Sustainability report Zuidas 2018
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