Cleaner Technology Projects in Denmark 1997

Environmental Management of Urban Renewal and Dwelling Improvement in Kolding

Miljørigtig projektering af boligforbedring og byfornyelse i Kolding
Arbejdsrapport nr. 23, 1997, Miljøstyrelsen

This demonstration project, DP 12, forms part of the outline project Environmental Management in Project Design, the purpose of which is to contribute to a combination of theoretical method development and practical testing of a project design practice which is developed during the decision-making process of project planning. The demonstration project is linked to a project on urban renewal and dwelling improvement in an area in Kolding located near the river. 

The purpose of DP 12 was, among other things, to ensure that the planning of a distinctive project on urban renewal and dwelling improvement includes the use and testing of and participation in the further development of the tools, in particular the manual "Håndbog i miljørigtig projektering", which ensure that overall assessments are carried out during project planning by means of method description.

The main element of the project is the property "Solgården", a five-storey letting property with approximately 80 flats that was constructed in 1939-40.

The urban renewal project consists of several project elements:
Urban renewal in the area
Dwelling improvements in the property "Solgården"
An experimental project comprising an area of 1000 m2 of solar cells built into the property, partly on the roof and partly on the balconies
A rational fitting of lifts in the eight stairways

The framework for the urban renewal project was defined prior to the commencement of DP 12. This framework consists of the objectives laid down by the Kolding Municipal Council and in the relevant legislation for the urban renewal effort. This has resulted in a demonstration project based on the 18 specific items in the decision-making proposal ("Forslag til beslutning") for urban renewal, which was adopted by Kolding Municipal Council.

Certain priorities have been set up on the basis of the developer’s objectives, input and output assessments and assessments of the environmental impact, effects and measures, resulting in the following objectives for various items:
Yard clearance and establishment of car parks and gardens
Renewal of the roof
Renewal of the heating system
Renewal of the water supply system
Establishment of solar energy facilities on the roof
Renewal of electric installations
Renewal and refitting of bathrooms
Renewal and refitting of kitchens
Establishment of a waste disposal system
Solving existing earth pollution problems

The input and output assessments of the 18 specific items listed were primarily based on the life cycle phases:
Construction and amendments
Operation and maintenance
Demolition and disposal

The subsequently performed detail assessment also includes assessments within the phases "Extraction of raw material" and "Manufacture of building and construction materials".

An environmental programme, in which, among other things, the specific targets were specified, has been prepared on the basis of the results of the inventory.

An environmental activity plan for the further integration of environmental considerations in the project has been prepared on the basis of the environmental programme. Among other things, this plan sets out that a subsequent detail assessment of the following items should be carried out:
Whether or not the renewal of the bathrooms should be carried out in the conventional manner (on site) or by means of prefabricated elements.
Whether or not the roofing material applied should be made of bitumen carton or PVC film.

The detail assessments are carried out as a comparison of the options throughout all the life cycle phases. The five checklists, which were prepared during Part Project 5, have formed the basis for the assessment. As the comparison includes environmental hazards, which are not directly comparable, we have strived to carry out a comparison of quantifiable part elements and subsequently a subjectively weighed overall assessment has been made.

The experiences gained from the implementation of this demonstration project were that the system for environmentally desirable project design which is drawn up in the manual "Håndbog i miljørigtig projektering" is a good way of incorporating the environmental aspects of the project phase assessments and decisions. This also applies to an urban renewal and dwelling improvement project of this type, even if the framework for the scope of the project, including the location and design of the building, was predetermined.

The environmental assessments form part of the overall evaluation basis for a project, and experience shows that these are not given as much emphasis as e.g. aspects relating to time and finances. Furthermore, it has become apparent that the legislation covers many of the environmental considerations we have found to be important, especially in the following life cycle phases: "Construction and amendments" and "Operation and maintenance".

Author/ institution

RAMBØLL, Kolding Kommune og Byfornyelsesselskabet DANMARK

This report is subsidised by the National Council for Recycling and Cleaner Technology

ISSN no. 0908-9195
ISBN no. 87-7810-766-0