Scale Projects

Holland’s CEP recommends four “scale projects” that address specific neighborhoods across Holland. Each is small enough to serve as a pilot program for other areas of the community, but still large enough to significantly impact Holland’s energy use and supply.

These projects could be the beginning of the plan’s implementation and will gradually expand, transforming Holland into a world-class energy community.

Holland Industrial Park

Installing a power generation utility in the middle of Holland’s industrial parks will benefit Holland’s businesses and industry with an easily-accessible and tailored energy supply. The close proximity of energy production and use will allow the city to more efficiently tailor energy production to the needs of current and future business investors, reducing overall energy costs, increasing their competitive edge, and helping them to achieve their environmental and corporate sustainability goals. This benefits Holland by modernizing its energy capabilities and spurring growth and investment throughout the community.

Holland’s Historic District

Holland has over 7,000 single-family homes that waste electricity through old appliances and poor insulation – making them expensive to heat and cool. Holland’s historic district of 150 homes could be the first neighborhood in Holland to receive renovations and improvements that eventually would be performed on every Holland residence. Homeowners will increase the “fuel mileage” of their home, see smaller energy bills, and be better stewards of the environment.  The “efficiency package” includes replacing windows, increasing insulation, and replacing old heating and air conditioning units.

Hope College Campus

Hope College has the unique ability to lead in energy efficiency improvements and to provide community education and leadership in 21st-century stewardship.  By reconfiguring its energy supply and making efficiency improvements, Hope’s size, infrastructure, community involvement and central location make it ideally positioned to become a central node for wider district heating and community education.

Holland High school, Holland Hospital, and the Aquatic Center

These three centers are nearby each other and, just like the Hope College campus, use enough energy and have enough existing infrastructure to apply a “campus-like” energy plan for energy efficiency improvements, district heating, and community education.  Each center has unique needs and opportunities to increase heating, cooling, and energy efficiencies.  If modernized as a group, the three centers can create a uniquely efficient and interdependent energy, heating, and cooling system.