With a population of over 750,000, Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands. The municipality of Amsterdam is divided into districts which are organised as municipalities in their own right, and which function largely autonomously. Services and Facility Management (DFM) provides support to the municipality of Amsterdam.

How can DFM become a service and knowledge centre in the field of sustainability, in order to assist the municipality of Amsterdam to achieve CO2 reduction?

During the first phase of the project, the business plan and image plan were written. Objectives were defined, and initial customers were visited. The Stopera (a combination of the Dutch words for ‘town hall’ and ‘opera house’) has the ambition to be CO2-neutral in 2010. Arjen Okx, DFM Sector Manager: "The technical specialists at DFM and CFP have identified all of the measures necessary for the optimum reduction of Stopera’s CO2 footprint. Through the combination of innovative technology and financial expertise, together we will now be capable of operating Stopera as a CO2-neutral facility in 2010."

DFM is reorganising in order to ultimately be able to play an advisory role for all facilities divisions in the municipality of Amsterdam. CFP is the municipality’s partner when it comes to sustainability objectives. The municipality of Amsterdam aims to be CO2-neutral by 2015, and CFP is helping the municipality of Amsterdam achieve this goal for its more than 400 municipal buildings. DFM would like to become a professional sustainability advisory organisation. Since CFP is a leader in this field, CFP is helping DFM fulfil this role. Among other activities, CFP has written the business plans and provided support in serving customers. An image plan has also been developed including new folders and brochures to promote sustainability. CFP provides assistance to DFM personnel in developing the new service. This is done by training employees, transferring knowledge, holding work sessions and carrying out joint projects. Joint teams consisting of members from CFP and DFM guarantee the results.