Reduced energy consumption

"Our company strives to achieve continuous reduction and elimination of energy consumption. Key points of the policy atVandersanden locations in Belgium and the Netherlands (Bilzen, Lanklaar, Hekelgem, Hedikhuizen and Spijk) are:

• continuous effort towards improvement of energy performance
• prevention of incidents that lead to unnecessarily higher energy consumption
• compliance with legislation and regulations and other established requirements
• updating the Energy Saving Plan on a regular basis
• commitment to implementation of the Energy Saving Plan

The management also informs the employees concerning the established, implemented policy objectives in order to achieve energy savings."
                                                                                      J.P. Wuytack - General Director

Since April 2011, AlpEnergy (energy generated from hydroelectric power stations in the Alps) has been replaced by GO's. 
GO means guarantee of origin. This certificate and proof guarantees that electricity is generated from wind energy, hydro power or solar energy. Vandersanden has the guarantee that it's green power, however the source is unknown.

Vandersanden has invested in Combined Heat and Power plants in its two factories, in Spouwen and Lanklaar.

These CHP plants consist of an alternator driven by a 16-cylinder natural gas engine. The energy in the consumed gas is converted into both electricity and heat. The energy in the warm air is not wasted however, because it is used to dry the bricks and heat the factory.

If the electricity fails in the main booth, the CHP system can also keep the kilns and drying chambers in operation. The CHP plant runs during production hours and supplies no less than 50% of the total power of the factory.

This not only allows us to save energy but also results in a reduction of CO2 emissions.

Since October 2011, Vandersanden has a PV-installation (better known as solar panels) in its two factories, in Spouwen and Lanklaar. Due to this, we generate even more own electricity and from that we help out the environment. After all, solar energy is a sustainable energy and when we use this more often, we contribute to a better world.

The installation of solar panels rises to a total capacity of 407 kWp:
- 253 kWp in Spouwen
- 154 kWp in Lanklaar
Together, both installations provide, on an annual basis, a green power production of 360 MWh.

Vandersanden optimises its computer-controlled kilns and dryers using the very latest process control technologies. This investment has allowed us to achieve the following savings:
-lower natural gas consumption in the kilns through improved heat transfer between the combustion gases and bricks
-more efficient use of the cooling air in our drying process so that here too we are able to burn as little additional natural gas as possible.