Utrecht, 10 July 2007 - Evelop Real Estate & Energy Infra and NS, the Dutch railway company, have agreed on the joint development of a 25,000 m2 zero-energy office building in the centre of Utrecht. The office will have its own energy supply.

Zero-energy office building
Tenants in the building will pay much lower energy bills than in a conventional building. The cost of the systems and technology will be borne partly through the energy savings. The site near a railway station will also contribute to lower CO2 emissions, as higher numbers of staff and visitors will reach the building by public transport.

The two parties are delighted with this venture, and intend to work on more joint projects in the future. The development of this building as well as that of Econcern’s planned zero-energy head office in Nieuwegein, show that sustainable and integrated real-estate solutions are now genuinely within reach.

Note for editors:

Evelop (www.evelop.com)
Evelop is part of the Econcern group, one of Europe's 500 fastest growing companies. The company’s mission is to ensure: a sustainable energy supply for everyone.
Evelop is a major player in Europe in project development in the sustainable energy sector. Its current project portfolio gives it the ambition and the potential to realize 4,000 MW of renewable energy capacity, especially in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin America. As well as wind, biomass, solar energy, and seawater air conditioning projects, Evelop also develops zero-energy public properties, private housing, and energy infrastructure.

NS Poort (www.nspoort.nl)
NS Poort is a young, multifaceted property company, specialized in the development, management and operation of complex environments that accommodate a range of transport connections. It was established on January 1, 2007 – the result of the merger of several company divisions of Netherlands Railways (NS), including NS Vastgoed and NS Stations. NS Poort is responsible for the development and redevelopment of station locations and for the operation and management of buildings and sites in and around the Dutch railway stations. In these roles, the company strives to create lively, safe and attractive station areas that offer a range of functions and form pleasant places to stay for passengers and passers-by alike. Locations that are easily reached by either public transport or car and offer parking facilities for easy transfer.
NS Poort works to find the most cost-effective solution for these objec¬tives and to optimize the performance of existing and new stop-over and transport functions. Combining extensive knowledge of the business with a solid insight into local requirements, NS Poort is able to create consider¬able added value in both existing and new locations. Developing a specific area, the company focuses on realizing a mix of four functions: living, working, shopping and leisure. This results in a location that optimally complements its immediate environs. Ultimately, these ‘gateways’ (Poorten in Dutch) form important entrances to the city beyond, and to the local network of transport connections.