Zonnige Kempen is the youngest social housing company within VMSW (*). Social housing companies help people with a low income by offering them a proper and affordable house, as owners or tenants. In addition, Zonnige Kempen aims since long to integrate another element, that of sustainable building. By building sustainable houses, additional value is created, both to the tenants who are offered a comfortable house with a low energy invoice and to the community by consuming less natural resources and emitting less damaging substances.

In our daily lives the words ‘durable' or ‘sustainable' are often used. Few people know however that ‘sustainability' has two meanings: on the one hand, it expresses that something is durable/sustainable, has a long life , that it can fulfil its function for a long time. On the other hand, it also means: ecological, energy-saving, environmentally friendly. This is based on a mix of and balance between both social, economic and ecological elements.

Sustainability principles can be applied in many fields; a balance should be sought for between items such as integration in the environment, energy, water, building materials and waste.

* VMSW = umbrella organisation of Flemish social housing companies