Transition professor Jan Rotmans will not get his own house gas-free | Inland

Despite sky-high investments that Rotmans has already made in his old house, for example to insulate it better, he is unable to close the climate-hazardous gas tap. “I have already spent a hundred thousand euros on it. The best experts in the Netherlands have visited. But I cannot get my home free of natural gas, ”said Rotmans.

Whole deviations from natural gas

The situation is remarkable because the professor from Erasmus University is involved as a consultant in experiments to get entire districts from natural gas. For years he has been investing his time and energy in bringing about an energy transition in the Netherlands, in order to phase out all fossil fuels.

“It is absurd that the GroenLinks fraction wants to start making the city natural gas-free precisely there”

Kevin Kreuger, Amsterdam FvD councilor, is not surprised by Rotmans’ testimony. “This is exactly the same situation that applies to the entire Amsterdam canal belt. These are historic buildings that cannot be made suitable for a heat pump. It is absurd that the GroenLinks faction wants to start making the city natural gas-free precisely there. If you wanted to, you should tackle those old houses last. ”

Farm Ed Nijpels

The fact that Rotmans has provisionally relied on natural gas for a comfortable warm house is somewhat reminiscent of the farm of climate celebrity Ed Nijpels. When the chairman of the climate tables – known for statements such as ‘saving energy is a feast for the wallet’ – put his Frisian home tulip up for sale, it turned out that the monumental house carried energy label G: the label for the worst possible insulation.

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