Green Lighthouse is Denmark’s first public CO2-neutral building. The new building, Green Lighthouse, was inaugurated on the 20th October 2009 and serves as an example in several ways.  The house is actually a lighthouse in more than one sense. It is a green lighthouse of CO2-neutral buildings up to the UN Climate Conference (COP15); It is a lighthouse of efficient public-private cooperation; and last, but not least, it is a lighthouse for the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, which will see its student services consolidated under one roof.

With Green Lighthouse it has been proven that it is not rocket science, but primary common sense to construct carbon neutral buildings. The design concept of the house alone contributes to an energy use reduction by ¾.The unique design involves the optimal use of daylight, an automatic ventilation system and an automatic cooling and heating system. The orientation of the building, with regards to the sun, means that full advantage of solar energy can be taken. With Green Lighthouse two birds has been killed with one stone; futuristic carbon neutral construction is beeing combined with a modern study and research environment.

In 2007, Copenhagen defined itself as the environmental capital of Europe.

The vision for 2015 is to become the Eco-Metropole of the world. In order to meet the vision four themes has been defined;

Worlds best city for cycles, centre for world climate policy, A green and blue capital city, a clean healthy major city.

Lord Mayor, Ritt Bjerregaard, City of Copenhagen, states;
- With Green Lighthouse we have demonstrated that it is also possible to build CO2-neutral structures when it comes to office buildings. Green Lighthouse is a perfect example of reaching great heights through new partnerships. In the City of Copenhagen, we are proud to show future building owners how they can contribute to making the city CO2-neutral.

www.greenlighthouse.ku.dk

Photo credits: Adam Mørk

Posted By: scaledenmark.dk

The city of Hamburg, situated on the banks of the river Elbe, has a population of about 1.8 million and faces numerous metropolitan challenges. However. Germany’s second largest city combines comprehensive approaches, policy commitment and the necessary funding needed to resolve these challenges. On the whole, it has an integrated and participative planning strategy and a strong commitment towards a “green” vision.

GREEN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
The city and more than 1000 active business partners have joined forces in a green alliance for environmental protection. The twelve biggest companies will reduce the CO2 emissions with 500.000 tons by 2012.

MASSIVE ENERGY SAVINGS
It should be mentioned that Hamburg has set ambitious climate protection goals such as reducing its CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 and by 80% by the year 2050. CO2 emissions per person have been reduced by about 15% when compared to 1990, with annual energy savings of some 46,000 MWh, a major achievement for a big city. Energy networks will be put under city administration, and district heating will be provided for 490.000 households.

GREEN PORT
The Port of Hamburg on the river Elbe is Europe’s second largest in terms of number of containers handled. With a growing number of containers entering and leaving the port, expansion is a continuously discussed issue. However, geographical expansion into the surrounding area is, intentionally, just not pursued. Instead, the increasing need for greater capacity is met by making more efficient use of allocated land and by generating new areas through filling-up expendable harbour basins.

The Hamburg Dock Railway will become the largest hub for freight transportation by rail, and container taxi vessels in the port will replace container-handling trucks. One taxi alone replaces 60 trucks. Hamburg will also support green shipping by reducing port fees for environmentally friendly ships.

EXCELLENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The city has also achieved high environmental standards and good performance levels in terms of cycling and public transport indicators. Almost all citizens have access to optimal public transport within 300 meters of their given location. There is also a systematic structure for green areas which allow citizens easy accessibility. New suburban and underground train lines, including lines to the port and airport, will be constructed, and there will be a new network of cycle paths.

The City of Hamburg plans to launch a “train of ideas” whereby interested cities within the European Green Capital Award network ‘own’ a wagon and promote their respective green ideas, achievements and future plans. The train will then travel around Europe spreading experience and best practice in an innovative way.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/green_cities.html

http://www.hamburg.de/bsu/1241328/green-capital-en.html

Posted by: a-tour.de

Each year, one European city is awarded the title of European Green Capital. The award goes to a city that has a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards; is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development; can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices among other European cities. For 2010, the award goes to Stockholm. So, what has Stockholm done to win this prize?

City development: The city is building two new eco-profile residential areas, using experience gained from eco-profiled Hammarby Waterfront. Located on former brownfields, one of the new areas – Stockholm Royal Seaport – aims at being fossile fuel free by 2030, while the entire city of Stockholm is aiming to achieve this by 2050. Stockholm Royal Seaport is to be a showcase for sustainable urban construction where innovative environmental technology and creative solutions are developed, tested and presented. This city district will be an example for other cities to follow, a world-class environmental urban district.

Biogas is produced in waste water plants, through digestion of organic waste sludge. In Hammarby eco-district, the waste water from a single household produces sufficient biogas forthe household’s gas cooker. Most biogas is, currently, used as fuel in eco-friendly cars and busses. Collection of food waste for biogas production is to increase from 4,500 tonnes to 18,000 tonnes between 2008 and 2012.

Green areas: 90% of the population live less than 300 metres from a green area. This allows for a better, local quality of life, recreation, water purification, noise reduction, and enhanced biodiversity and ecology. Stockholm has 24 official bathing beaches within the city’s boundaries, and several more are planned.

Congestion charge: A congestion charge was introduced in 2006 for cars travelling in and out of the inner city area during daytime hours. The emission reduction levels from congestion taxes was approximately 30,000 tonnes CO2 in the year 2006. Emission levels are down 10-14% and air quality has been improved by 2-10%. Traffic has been reduced by 20%.

Transportation: All inner city buses run on renewable fuels and all subways and commuter trains run on renewable electricity making them an even more environmentally sustainable means of transport. In Stockholm, the number of people cycling has increased by 75% over the past ten years. Stockholm has 760 km of cycle lanes, and more are being built.

Towards a fossil fuel free city: Stockholm has reduced CO2 emissions by 25%, compared to the 1990 levels. Stockholm has the ambitious target of becoming a fossil fuel free city by 2050. 69% of all households have access to district heating – and the share of renewable energy in district heating is nearly 70%.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/green_cities.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEv12li9hyI&feature=player_embedded
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/green_cities_submenu/stockholm_2010_2011.html
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/docs/about/brochure/egc-brochure-stockholm_en.pdf

Posted By: sights.se

The HafenCity continues to expand from west to east and from north to south. The biggest inner city building site at this time is situated on the 7.9 hectare site that will become Überseequartier. Work at the southern half will commence in 2009, and its northern half will be realised by the summer of 2010.

PRIMARY SCHOOL AT SANDTORPARK
Next to Überseequartier the primary school Am Sandtorpark / Grasbrook by Spengler Wiescholek architects was inaugurated on September 11th. The 5 storeys high structure overlooks the Sandtorpark on the northern side. The 2 storey high recessed multi-purpose hall is situated on the ground floor, together with the Cafeteria and the adjacent kitchen. The natural illumination and ventilation of the internal schoolrooms has been assured through an open, central areaway.

The schoolyard can be found on the rooftop and was constructed as an open courtyard with a tendriled safety fence and a canopy that makes an utilisation even in the rain possible.

The building received the “Umweltpreis” (price for environmental care) in Gold from the HafenCity GmbH for its outstanding environmental qualities.

Posted by:  a-tour