Sustainability

——Energy efficiency is the order of the day for companies as well as households: rising costs make those products more attractive, that have a built-in sensibility for budget and climate factors. 

——So-called graywater can be a building block for a more sustainable use of natural resources. The secondary use of such water can start paying off right now. In the foreseeable future, the relevance of water recycling will continue to increase.

——An American start-up has developed an efficient way to process and recycle solar cells. Will this provide another boost to the energy system transformation?

——Activism comes in different shapes and forms. With United States-based climate policy think tank Energy Innovation, Anand Gopal works to provide federal and state governments with the analysis and research necessary for creating actual laws on climate change. In our conversation, we review global symptoms, the legitimacy of climate protests and the next hot ticket for clean-tech investors.

——To establish a working circular economy, we need to toss out the term “trash” instead of tossing out valuable raw materials. The path leads from EU-wide regulations to clear labeling and even to a promising discovery in a cemetery in Leipzig.

——A lot of work is still needed to make a circular economy sustainable. The aim is to ensure that ecology and economy go hand in hand. TÜV SÜD CEO Dr. Johannes Bussmann on daily challenges and the value of small steps.

——Solar energy is one of the mainstays of the energy transition. The installations that capture it are rarely aesthetically pleasing, however. A new design concept is aiming to solve the aesthetics dilemma of solar panels for good.

——Are we utilizing energy in the most efficient way? Especially in the case of photovoltaic energy, much is lost if it isn't used immediately or stored. After more than a decade, a possible solution for energy storage could establish itself.

——The circular economy is considered the visionary idea to make our way of life more sustainable.

——The Euro­pean Union has issued a plethora of regulations and directives to ensure that the economy becomes more sustainable. This will prove challenging for companies, but also provides opportunities in the struggle against climate change.

——Ms. Verbeek, what do you think about…restoration?

——TÜV SÜD is leading by example and has set its own ambitious goals.

——Combating climate change without “negative emissions” won’t be possible. Emitted pollutants must be captured. One method is known as Direct Air Capture (DAC), and the recovered carbon dioxide can be useful in other areas over the long term.

——Deserts such as the Sahara are continually expanding, and humankind is responsible for some of this desertification. Now there are large projects to help halt this expansion, but it isn’t easy to reclaim land from the desert.

——Brigitte Zypries was active in national politics in Germany for more than fifteen years. She knows what it means to bear responsibility. A conversation about the challenges and dangers of acting responsibly.

——We’re taking a look here at four of the greatest challenges—and pre­sent some innovative solutions.

——Calculations and forecasts

——The future belongs to renewable energy. But wind turbines and solar panels alone won’t be able to meet global energy demands. An overview of alternatives with potential.

——Ethical obligation

——Humor plays an important role in communication particularly in times of crisis. In this interview, journalist and speech writer Vazrik Bazil explains why jokes liberate us from within – and describes situations in which it is best to refrain from them.

——Over-fished oceans, clear-cut forests, over-grazed pastures: humans mercilessly use and over-use resources. What’s behind this irresponsible behavior—and how it can be contained.

——Biodiversity is declining worldwide. Climate change and resource exploitation are to blame. This is dangerous for humanity, and there are as yet few effective countermeasures. What can companies do?