This residential skyscraper will run only on electricity
And not burn even a single drop of fossil fuels
Today’s eco snapshot👇🏽
No fossil fuels: An all-electric skyscraper
Startup of the week: SIXR
5 brands that sustainably stand out
Some good news from around the world
3 ways I can help you on your sustainability journey
🏢 No fossil fuels: An all-electric skyscraper
When it opens later in 2024, the 44-story tower at 505 State Street in Brooklyn will be New York City's first all-electric skyscraper. Powered fully by electricity and emitting no carbon emissions on-site, the tower sets a new standard for sustainable building design.
The architects behind the project, Alloy Development, achieved this feat by reducing the building's energy needs and utilizing renewable energy sources.
By incorporating high-performance building envelopes, efficient appliances, and on-site renewable energy production, the tower demonstrates the potential for large-scale electrification in the construction industry, which is responsible for around 40% of global emissions.
One of their biggest challenges was heating water for the building. They would have required large fossil fuel-based systems to heat water for 440 apartments.
So they decided to approach the problem differently and focused on reducing the overall demand for hot water.
By improving insulation and using triple-glazed windows, the apartments would stay warmer and residents would use less hot water.
Time for the quiz of the week ⌛
Answer at the end of the newsletter. No one (including me) can see your response so feel free to vote 😉
✨ Startup of the week: SIXR
Trash Couture: Around 150 billion garments are produced worldwide every year. Out of that, 85% end up in landfills. These garments release toxic chemicals into land and water. As the majority of them are made of plastic fibers like polyester, nylon, and lycra, they release microplastics into the environment as well.
Fashion Recycling: Canadian startup SIXR is trying to respond to this crisis along with Toronto's George Brown College. Their first product is a sustainable hoodie collection. It is made with fibers that can be easily recycled and transformed into new material stock. This is how it works:
Consumers pick a hoodie from SIXR’s app, and it is shipped to them
Once they are done wearing it, they scan a QR code sewn into the label of each garment, print a pre-paid shipping label, and pop it in the mail.
SIXR will recycle it with its recycling partner and consumers will receive up to 12% of the garment's cost as incentives.
Eco-Insights: Each of SIXR’s garments contains a unique QR code. The code contains rich data that allows customers to learn about the entire life cycle of their purchase — from the materials used and the textile worker who crafted it to its environmental footprint.
✅ Brands that sustainably stand out
🇨🇦 Pela- phone cases that can be composted at the end of their life
🇸🇪 Ekolution- bringing a green construction revolution using hemp
🇸🇮 Recovo- making fashion more sustainable by bringing down the textile waste
🇨🇦 Takasa- bedding that’s good for your sleep and the planet
🇺🇸 Leaf Shave- planet-friendly alternative to disposable plastic razors
Engage with hundreds of sustainable brands like these by upgrading to a paid subscription. It comes with access to a database of planet-friendly brands worldwide.
😹 Some Good News
🐘 Elephant Populations in Africa: A Trunk-tastic Turnaround! After years of decline, elephant populations in Africa have stabilized, thanks to new approaches to managing protected areas. Reports show that elephant numbers have even risen in certain regions. By implementing community-managed conservancies and wildlife corridors, which connect and surround protected areas, elephants are faring better and offering hope for their conservation.
🦊 Fur Out, Fashion In! The British Fashion Council has finally banned fur, recognizing that animals should keep their fur! This fur-free movement aligns with the global trend, as countries such as Austria, France, and the Netherlands have already implemented bans, showing that fashion can be fabulous and compassionate!
🛑 Invalid Permits: Norwegian Court Halts Oil and Gas Fields: A ruling by the Oslo District Court found three permits for new offshore oil and gas fields in Norway to be invalid due to insufficient assessment of their environmental impact. The decision, which sets a precedent for future fields, came in response to a lawsuit filed by Greenpeace and Nature and Youth. The verdict requires a reassessment of future emissions and highlights the importance of considering the global climate impact of fossil fuel extraction.
🌎 3 ways I can help you
📞 Interested in chatting about sustainability and climate change? Book a free call here
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Enjoy your weekend, and see you next week😊