Kathrin McCarthy

With a consistent choice of materials and a switch to cement and fossil-free building materials, as well as the ‘build as little as possible’ approach, around 70% of emissions can be avoided. Architects have a duty to choose building materials with the lowest possible CO2 footprint and plan for the long term and to be as recyclable as possible. Choose materials like HONEXT® made from waste and 100% recyclable. A real circular alternative for interior architecture. At OPENLY.lab they share their knowledge of bionic construction to achieve the highest possible climate impact. more info: https://lnkd.in/dVREYwra https://lnkd.in/dNemPGKS #circularmaterials #sustainablematerials #circularconstruction

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👏☀️👷 national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany finally approved the new solar Programm (Solarpaket 1) and climate protection law after months and months (since August 2023) of postponements. This pending approval confused consumers and clients which delayed their decision „to go solar“. Major key points: ✅ This means that 19 gigawatts would have to be added annually in the future in order to achieve the expansion target of 215 gigawatts for solar in 2030. According to the federal government's draft law on the solar package, half of the new solar systems should be on buildings, especially roofs, and the other half on open spaces such as fields. ✅ In addition, hurdles for so-called tenant electricity, where the electricity for a residential building comes from the on-site solar system, should be reduced. Solar on the roof should come with improved funding conditions, Increased subsidy rates and uncomplicated billing options for self-used electricity will become much more attractive. ✅ In the case of balcony power plants, which are becoming increasingly popular, it is intended that they no longer have to be reported to the network operator.

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#Germany hosting UEFA EURO 2024 =❤️ ... But what about Germany and 💧?... Reflecting on the #Abwasserkolloquium discussing the latest water challenges in Germany, together with #German experts. At the Max Planck Institute in #Stuttgart, a diverse audience from wastewater, drinking water, and academic sectors engaged in insightful discussions on digitalization, climate neutrality, and recycling as new municipal core tasks.   Addressing the future of water management we delved into critical challenges such as leakage detection and reduction, ensuring a reliable water supply, and adapting to new regulatory requirements. The diverse participation, and the critical issues discussed amongst others the latest advancements in leakage detection technology in Germany. As leakage is also a challenge in Germany according to the EUWID | Wasser und Abwasser https://bit.ly/4d4bWK2   💡“Water losses amounting to over 200 liters per hour per kilometer of pipeline in Southern Hesse, BUND Landesverband Hessen e.V. calls on municipalities to urgently renovate aging drinking water systems to prevent wastage and environmental impact” 🚰 The effect of new leaks are increasing due to no timely detection and localization of those. Not only financial damages, also communities are being affected by water losses more and more... Replacing pipes is part of the solution, but having a real-time alarm system for swift action is definitely needed. The event was a blend of knowledge sharing and inspiration, including valuable interactions and collaboration among like-minded professionals. The integration of AI, physics and sensor technology plays a pivotal role in detecting leaks and conserving water, essential for sustainable water infrastructure. Let's continue to work together towards a sustainable future. #Abwasserkolloquium #watercycle #WaterManagement #Sustainability #Innovation #FEIEV #CleanEnvironment #Collaboration

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Simply explained: #iPEN is an AppStore for DSOs - gives access to solutions that streamline their processes and make their grid ready for the #energytransition. Solutions that, for example, make grid connection, monitoring or inspection much easier than before thanks to greater transparency and automation. Data and AI are a cornerstone in making this possible.

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As of today, KfW is offering subsidized loans (up to €25m) for manufacturers of strategic transformation technologies such as wind energy. This is a good development for the supply chain - until now, KfW has only supported the construction of offshore wind farms. #offshorewind #offshorewindindustry #supplychain

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Great Discussion at „industry meets energy“ in Essen. In the area of ​​electricity, in-house generation will play an increasingly important role for industrial companies 💰billions of investment needed to beat rising energy costs in order to enable on-site energy production 🏭long term financing and PPAs with 25 years duration to be competitive and to produce energy where it’s needed 😤 Grid costs as well as skyrocketing CO2-prices are going to increase energy costs 🔛 energy production will be decentralized #energy #PPA #VPP #financing #infrastructure #privateequity #energytransition #CO2 #solar #storage https://lnkd.in/dFryMCxs

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Today, I had the opportunity to speak at the Handelsblatt Annual Conference "Decarbonizing Industry" about the transformation of Germany’s Mittelstand towards sustainability. It’s reassuring to see that decarbonization, thankfully, remains one of the major topics that the business world is rightfully addressing. Westfalen serves more than 60,000 commercial customers across all business sectors – from mobility to energy and technical gases – primarily medium-sized companies. This broad scope gives us a unique and comprehensive insight into the state of Germany’s Mittelstand, rightly regarded as the backbone of the German economy. What we are seeing is clear: The decarbonization process in the Mittelstand is still in its early stages. Not only are government incentives often focused on large industries, bypassing smaller companies, but many businesses are also postponing concrete sustainability measures – often due to cost concerns and a limited willingness to pay among their own customers. However, the reality is: Those who do not act and ignore the transformation will inevitably lose in the long run. So, let’s get started!

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BASF turns its back on Germany: economists call for a reaction from the traffic light government More and more companies are relocating their production abroad. The German chemical giant BASF is also thinking about it. Economists are calling for a better economic policy. May 31, 2024 The problems of the German economic crisis are well known: high energy costs, too much bureaucracy, overregulation by the state and a shortage of skilled workers. For many companies, these are reasons to relocate their production abroad. Now there is a danger that BASF, one of the largest German companies, could even turn its back on Germany and relocate to China. While the company is scaling back production in Ludwigshafen and cutting jobs, it is investing ten billion euros in a new factory in China. The company justifies the move with the aforementioned symptoms of the ailing German economy. According to BASF, it made a profit everywhere last year except in Germany. The future of Germany as a business location appears to be acutely endangered. Several economic experts consider the current development to be threatening and are therefore calling on the German government to strengthen Germany as a business location again through better economic policy. IWH criticizes the German government: "Economic policy unsettles companies" At the request of the Berliner Zeitung, Oliver Hortemüller, Deputy President of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH), expresses concern in view of the reports of BASF's impending departure. He fears that other companies could follow the chemical company's example. "Economic policy is unsettling households and companies," criticizes Hortemüller. Above all, economic decisions by politicians need to become more rational again "so that companies can plan sensibly". The federal government must develop long-term strategies for the most important fields of action. "If there are credible and convincing strategies in these areas, households and companies will also look to the future with more confidence again." Economist: BASF's departure "would be a major blow for Germany" Economist Martin Gornig considers a possible departure of BASF to be a major threat to the German economy. BASF is "one of the most important industrial companies in Germany", the research director for industrial policy at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) told the BZ. "A migration, break-up or insolvency would certainly be a severe blow for Germany as an industrial location." Due to the changes in international trade relations, "the presence in the three major economic areas of the USA, China and Europe is now of central importance for companies", the economist emphasizes. "At the same time, the incentive to make greater use of the differences in location within the EU is increasing." https://lnkd.in/gWDr5aUC

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