‘HoHo Vienna’ combines materials and innovative construction methods to maximise the benefits of both concrete and wood. With this process, it re-imagines the hybrid building of the future. The high-rise was awarded a Gold LEED Certificate by the internationally recognised rating system for environmentally friendly buildings. It received a score of 924/1000 from the Austrian Sustainable Building Council (ÖGNB).

Did you know: although wood itself is fairly light in weight, it’s actually very strong. For example, a cube of fir-wood just four cm in length can bear four tonnes of weight. That makes it stronger than concrete! It is also naturally elastic and porous. Wood is also able to absorb moisture and release it back into the environment, making it a very effective insulator.

The next generation of housing

Almost 50% of Austria is covered in forest, and 30 million cubic metres of timber is produced each year. That means it took only one hour and 17 minutes to regrow all the timber used in the ‘HoHo Vienna’ project.
Using wood also reduces CO2 equivalents when compared to concrete, as well as having a more positive effect on quality of life, health and well-being.

Built together with a holistic work-life balance in mind, the ‘HoHo Vienna’ complex offers sustainable spaces for a variety of uses, from restaurants and wellness, to offices, hotels and apartments.
As such, it provides a viable alternative to traditional urban development for the next generation of city planners.

Sustainable housing like this can truly remodel the future of building practises.

Source:
HoHo Wien

Photo credit: © HoHo Wien

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How the system works: surplus natural energy powers an automated crane that lifts concrete blocks to form a tower. This stores the energy potentially, so that it can be more effectively distributed throughout the day. When there is a dip in natural energy, for example at night when solar power isn’t generated, the crane lowers the blocks. This falling motion turns a generator in the crane, which then generates electricity and discharges it back into the grid.

20 megawatt-hours a day

Each tower can store 20 megawatt-hours a day, enough to power 2,000 Swiss homes for 24 hours.
The cranes are controlled by algorithms, so that the loading and unloading movements run as efficiently as possible. The custom-made composite blocks are made from locally sourced soil, sand or waste material, adding another useful stage to materials that are difficult to recycle.

This works in the same way as hydro-electric energy, i.e. by storing water at high altitude, but using bricks instead of water. However, the idea of using bricks is not the main innovation here. For the first time ever, the Energy Vault system can store and deploy renewable energy at less cost than fossil fuels. This puts them at the forefront of an energy transformation that offers companies and governments the opportunity to deploy renewable energy efficiently at scale.

A prototype has already been in operation in Bellinzona in Switzerland, and has been a proven success. Thus sustainable energy storage can succeed.
Energy Vault was named one of the most important start-ups by the World Economic Forum.
At the end of 2021 commercial plants constructions in the USA, Europe and Australia have begun.

Source and further link:
swissinfo.ch/ger/tecnologia_den-menschlichen-koerper-zur-stromerzeugung-nutzen/46538964
energyvault.com/

Photo credit: © Energy Vault

Der Beitrag Building sustainable energy storage erschien zuerst auf tageswow.de.

In total there are 128 varieties of homemade “natural ice cream”. Those are freshly prepared every day, depending on what’s on offer.
It’s important to the operators Robert Maier-Kares and Marcus Kares that each variety is also available as a vegan option. This is so as not to exclude anyone, as they say themselves. This concept has been successful: in 2020, ‘Eismeer’ was named Bavarian Restaurant of the Year. 

With only nine tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the company’s emissions are at the same level as the average per capita emissions in Germany. This is achieved through the use of green electricity, e-mobility and supply chains that are as local as possible.

The operators are aware that 100% climate neutrality is still a pipe dream, thus they can’t yet offer fully climate-neutral ice cream. Therefore, they compensate the CO2 emissions of the franchise company (other ice cream cafés in Munich as well as at Lake Chiemsee are also supplied) by buying certificates for women’s rights and equal treatment rights in South Africa.
“We want to find the healthy way between production, short delivery routes and nature”, the shop’s owners state.

They seem to have succeeded. 

Source and further links:
daseismeer.de/
mucbook.de/erstes-klimaneutrales-eiscafe-eismeer-muenchen/
kskmse.blog/eismeer/

Photo credit: kskmse.blog/

Der Beitrag Climate-neutral ice cream parlour erschien zuerst auf tageswow.de.

In their home stadium, 25% of which is powered by electricity from their own roof, they serve tofu sausage and vegan cupcakes. Even the beer is vegan, and jerseys and shin pads are made of bamboo.
Since the change in stadium food, more has been consumed than ever before – so much so that the stadium has even set up its own catering service.
The latest development is jerseys made from coffee grounds. Of course, this is not only recycling of the first order. It’s also supposed to benefit the performance of the athletes.

The British fourth division club is thus a trendsetter worldwide and a pioneer when it comes to creating carbon-neutral sports events. Regardless, it’s doesn’t lose sight of its sporting goals – which is promotion to the third division. If the jerseys made from coffee grounds can contribute to this, then even better.

We think: The world’s first ever carbon- and climate-neutral football club is a real #tageswow!

Sources and further links:
fgrfc.co.uk/
welt.de/sport/article227148079/Forest-Green-Rovers-In-Trikots-aus-Kaffeesatz-zur-Meisterschaft.html
spiegel.de/sport/fussball/forest-green-rovers-ist-erster-klimaneutraler-fussballub-der-welt-tofu-statt-bratwurst-a-2f7addc2-cd49-4d57-9677-749cf534b881
sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.de/die-loesung-fuer-alles/forest-green-rovers-fussball-nachhaltigkeit-gruen-oeko-bio-vegan-sport-ernaehrung-umwelt-87124

Photo credit: © Forest Green Rovers

Der Beitrag The climate-neutral football club erschien zuerst auf tageswow.de.

In Darmstadt, too, something is happening. Several parliamentary groups have submitted a motion in cooperation to offer period products free of charge in all public buildings in the city. This motion was approved by a large majority and is to be implemented soon. 

Although the VAT on menstrual products in Germany was reduced from 19 to seven per cent in 2020, many manufacturers have increased the prices of their products as a result. Thus they are not affordable for everyone.

Period poverty shall not decide upon school attendance

The Scottish Parliament’s decision at the end of November 2020 to provide access to sanitary products not only in schools and universities, but also in all public buildings in the country, probably served as a model. The aim is to make these items available free of charge at all times to those who need them: menstruating girls and women. Statistically, one in ten suffers from so-called period poverty and cannot afford these items and as a result cannot participate in professional or educational activities and social life. 

New Zealand has also taken the step of offering menstrual products free of charge in schools since June 2021. Here, too, the reason is clearly rooted in the fight against poverty. Many menstruating girls stay away from class because they simply cannot afford period products. 

In the EU, the minimum VAT rate of five percent still applies at present. But that could soon change. From 2022, this five-percent brake is to be abolished, which would enable all EU member states to offer hygiene products for women tax-free. 

This has already been the case in Kenya since 2011, Malta and Ireland have followed suit. Perhaps the German parliament will also see sense and end the financial discrimination against menstruating women. Free sanitary healthcare should be available to those who need it.

Sources and further links:
hessenschau.de/gesellschaft/keine-luxusprodukte-tampons-for-free-an-wiesbadener-schule,menstruationsartikel-kostenlos-100.html
nwzonline.de/panorama/menstruationsprodukte-in-schottland-bald-kostenlos_a_50,10,4249287346.html
welt.de/politik/ausland/article220992580/Menstruationsartikeln-Schottland-stimmt-fuer-kostenlose-Bereitstellung.html
taz.de/Neues-Gesetz-in-Schottland/!5731435/
stern.de/neon/wilde-welt/politik/keinluxus/periodenprodukte-werden-ermaessigt-besteuert—bundestag-hat-entschieden-8990808.html
stern.de/politik/neuseeland–schulen-stellen-ab-juni-kostenlose-tampons-und-binden-bereit-30385080.html
dw.com/de/tampon-steuer-hygieneprodukte-deutschland/a-51142312

Photo credit: © Lara Trizzino

Der Beitrag Tampons and pads for free erschien zuerst auf tageswow.de.

Luckily, a German start-up based near Berlin has made this their mission statement. Green City Solutions have created the CityTree air purifier, after discovering that moss plants capture pollutants and greenhouse gases much more efficiently than trees. One of their public furniture structures has as much cleaning power as 275 trees and takes up only 1% of the space.  

So how does it work? Polluted city air is drawn into the CityTree by its integrated solar-powered fan. The air then flows through the vertical moss mats and is purified and cooled in the process. Clean, cooled air then re-enters the environment through the slatted design, creating noticeably cleaner air within a 50m radius. 

As city planners look for ways to design better solutions for people living together, these hybrid CityTrees might just be an answer to help integrate nature into our overcrowded urban lives. CityTrees have so far found homes in London, Berlin, Cork, Paris, Amsterdam and Oslo. They will surely crop up in more cities around the world, helping to reduce the number of over-polluted urban areas. 

Source and further link:
greencitysolutions.de
kfw.de/stories/environment/renewable-energy/unternehmensportraet-greencity-solutions/

© Green City Solutions GmbH

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So how does it work?

In August 2020, Mein Grundeinkommen launched the first of three pilot schemes, and to date it is the largest independent academic research project into the effects of UBI in Germany. Together with the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Mein Grundeinkommen selected a total of 120 participants, who receive €1,200 a month for three years. This study is the first to be entirely financed by private crowdfunding – it does not rely on the state. It currently has about 140,000 private donors, and suggests there is a growing appetite for new ideas towards money, and how it might work in our society. 

The project aims to take the debate around UBI out of people’s living rooms and into a social reality – where it can be tested with empirical social research. The next draw for the second pilot project is open to participate, and takes place on 10th November 2021.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schupp from the DIW is very optimistic about the project: »We want to find out whether an unconditional monthly payment of a sum of money leads to statistically significant changes in behaviour and feelings. We already know from experimental economics that our social behaviour also depends on justice, fairness or equality. Here we have the chance to really check whether people conform to the stereotype of “homo economicus” and if they only act when they receive incentives and rewards for doing so.«

Mein Grundeinkommen e. V. will research such areas as physical and mental health, as well as notions of motivation, fulfilment and happiness. The results could help develop solutions for social care and reimagine how we organise our society financially.  

Sources and further links:
mein-grundeinkommen.de/
dw.com/en/basic-income-germany-tax-free/a-54700872

© Fabian Melber, Mein Grundeinkommen e. V.

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The next generation of shoppers are becoming more environmentally conscious. Consequently fashion houses increasingly look to ways to present their sustainable credentials.

So what does it mean? The fashion labels in the Kering group will all stop using fur from their 2022 Winter collections. As this includes many top international brands, this decision will have a huge impact in the fashion world.

“The time has now come to take a further step forward by ending the use of fur in all our collections. The world has changed, along with our clients, and luxury naturally needs to adapt to that,” François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, said.

It’s finally a well-won victory for PETA and other animal rights groups. PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), commended the move.

“Kering is synonymous with luxury fashion. With this announcement, it marks a new era for what is considered luxury to now include what is socially responsible, ethical and innovative,” Smith said. “We hope the rest of the fashion industry will take notice, choosing compassion and innovation over an outdated idea of luxury.”

So now looking good doesn’t have to come with a guilty conscience.

Sources and links:
https://www.laconceria.it/en/furriery/kering-gives-the-no-fur-crowd-a-run-for-their-money-no-more-fur-from-2022/
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/french-fashion-company-kering-says-it-will-be-going-entirely-fur-free-2021-09-24/
https://www.dv8worldnews.com/kering-abandonne-la-fourrure/article/2021/09/28/le-groupe-kering-renonce-a-lutilisation-de-la-fourrure
https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/luxury-fashion-kering-group-fur-free/

Picture credit: © Kimberly Tamkun/USFWS

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