Archive internal news
All stories that have been tagged with Sustainability
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ Community Relations at the ETH Zentrum
- Community
- Internal news
Just a few minutes' walk from the ETH Zentrum campus, the Oberstrass-M??rt attracts young and old alike. The Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ Community Relations stand with vegan oysters from the ETH spin-off Tastelab and Globi's forest laboratory were right in the middle of it all. Shortly beforehand, the Fluntern neighbourhood association visited the new Gloria Cube (GLC building).
Further round of energy-saving measures
- Institutional
- Internal news
ETH Zurich cut its energy consumption by around 7 percent over the winter of 2022/23. As of 1 October, energy-saving measures relating to room temperature and lighting are again being implemented for the winter of 2023/24. All members of the ETH Zurich community are requested to help reduce energy consumption.
ETH Week makes way for a new strategic initiative
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
Over the last eight years, ETH Week has given over 1,200 students the chance to meet and network with experts from science, industry, and the public sector. In its place, PBLabs will enable project-based education (PBE) across the university.
Results and outlook for ETH Zurich¡¯s energy supplies
Institutional
In winter 2022/23, ETH Zurich reduced its energy consumption by around 7 percent compared to the previous winter and met the federal government¡¯s gas savings target. As there is still some uncertainty surrounding energy supplies, it plans on reintroducing its energy-saving measures next winter. Specific measures for research are currently being worked on.
Second-hand bike exchange
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
Don¡¯t miss the first ETH Velob?rse of the year, this Thursday on the Polyterrace! It¡¯s a great chance to snap up a second-hand bike at a good price.
Getting around sustainably?
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
Mobility is a crucial aspect of our lives. So, what options are currently in place, and what solutions will be needed in the future? Who¡¯s in charge of the mobility infrastructure, and what responsibilities should we bear, as users? These are the questions the ¡°smart moves¡± campaign will be addressing over the next months.
ETH Zurich commits to energy savings targets for 2023
Institutional
ETH Zurich wants to lower its total energy consumption this year in response to the sharp increase in energy costs. The university will emphasise saving electricity, which will require the joint effort of all technical, administrative and scientific units.
New Associate Vice President for Sustainability
Institutional
Sonia Seneviratne is the new associate vice president for sustainability of the Executive Board. As of 1 January 2023, she will take over this function from Reto Knutti, who has worked meritoriously for the thematic focus for eight years.
Saving energy: ETH Zurich lowers gas consumption in November
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
In November 2022, ETH Zurich¡¯s gas consumption was significantly lower than in previous years. The university is currently implementing further measures to save energy.
Fit for the IT future with a new computer centre
Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
Excellent teaching, research and administration requires effective information and communication technologies. That is why ETH Zurich is building a new data centre on its H?nggerberg campus between 2023 and 2026 to meet the demands of the future.
Saving energy at ETH ¨C what happened in October
- Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
- Internal news
Since October, ETH Zurich has been implementing energy-saving measures in order to actively avoid a potential energy shortage. The current outlook for the extent to which the energy shortage will affect Switzerland is better than feared, but the situation remains very tense and saving energy is still important ¨C not least because of higher energy prices.
Climate-neutral ETH Zurich: A joint endeavour of great significance
- Institutional
- Internal news
ETH Zurich wants to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In order to reach this ambitious goal, an action plan for Net Zero is now being developed in a broad process.
ETH Zurich implements initial energy-saving measures
- Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
- Internal news
ETH Zurich has launched a first round of measures to reduce its gas and energy consumption and avoid an energy shortage. These measures concern the room temperature in the buildings, the hot water and the lighting.
Sparkling ideas for more energy security
- Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
- Internal news
Would you like to contribute to the prevention of an energy shortage in Zurich? Do you have an idea that you want to develop quickly and effectively? Sign up for "Energy Now! - An Impact Accelerator by ETH Zurich"! This ETH initiative aims to enable innovative solutions for more energy security in Zurich before Christmas.
ETH Zurich is preparing for potential energy shortages
Institutional
Should there be an energy shortage in Switzerland next winter, ETH Zurich will prioritise operations within its teaching and research infrastructure. A group of specialists at ETH has developed an action plan to ensure that core tasks are maintained at the University, even in the event of a crisis.
Materials scientist Tanja Zimmermann appointed the first female CEO of Empa
On 1 June 2022, Tanja Zimmermann became the first woman to head Empa, the research institute for materials science and technology. Like her predecessor, Gian-Luca Bona, the materials scientist also holds a dual professorship at ETH and EPFL.
Special e-bike rates for members of the ETH community
Service info
Anyone at ETH who wants to get from one place to another quickly can hire an e-bike from one of four convenient ETH Zurich locations.
Food4Thought: learn more about sustainable nutrition
Internal news
Numerous exhibitors will be at the Food4Thought fair in early April to present the diversity and deliciousness of sustainable food. You can visit the three-day event to learn more about vertical herb gardens, plant-based meat alternatives and sustainable gastronomy. The fair kicks off an awareness campaign orchestrated by ETH Zurich as part of the federal government¡¯s Exemplary Energy and Climate initiative.
ETH Sustainability to be realigned
Internal news
At ETH Zurich, sustainability is a principle that is relevant not only in teaching, research and innovation but also in campus and infrastructure development. For institutional sustainability and ETH Sustainability as the coordination office responsible for it, this means constant evolution.
News from the Executive Board 2021/2
- The Executive Board reports
- Internal news
The ETH Zurich Executive Board has decided to continue running the Energy Science Center and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from business trips. Additionally, the full scope of Zoom functionality is now available to everyone in the ETH community.
A civil engineer who sees the big picture
Internal news
Thomas Vogel, Professor of Structural Engineering, has greatly influenced structural engineering in Switzerland and has a well-earned reputation after serving in various capacities at ETH Zurich. After 28 years of serving the university, the passionate civil engineer is retiring.
From disposable to reusable
- Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ
- Internal news
Most ETH Zurich canteens and restaurants will be offering meals in reCIRCLE reusable containers as of 14 September, just in time for the start of the autumn semester.
Exhibition about the Anergy grid
Until 26 March 2020, an exhibition at the Ó¢»ÊÓéÀÖ Info on the H?nggerberg campus will show how the excellent anergy grid works.
How can we fly less?
ETH Zurich has launched a university-wide project to reduce CO2 emissions from business air travel. At an event held by the university, more than 200 participants discussed the ways in which individuals and ETH as a whole can change their behaviour.
Safeguarding the necessities of life
life
¡°Sustainability¡± is the term on everyone's lips these days ¨C but it is much more than just a buzzword. At its core, it raises existential questions for humans and the environment. Read on to find out what ¡°sustainable¡± means at ETH Zurich and how the university is contributing to society in this area.
Using the sun to commute
Service info
Anyone who uses public transport to commute to ETH is already travelling in an environmentally-conscious way. And ETH members now have an even more sustainable way to commute: the solar.mobil pass ensures that when they use public transport in Zurich, their journey will be fuelled exclusively by Swiss solar power.
Ground-breaking ceremony for the agriculture of the future
The Executive Board reports
With Monday's ground-breaking ceremony in Lindau, Cantonal Councillor Markus K?gi, ETH Zurich President Lino Guzzella and University of Zurich Rector Michael Hengartner have commenced the construction work for the Agrovet-Strickhof education and research centre. Research on sustainable agriculture will be conducted at the centre from 2017.
Forming for an entire generation of forestry experts
In person
ETH Zurich says farewell to Franz Schmith¨¹sen. The emeritus professor for forestry policy and forestry economy formed an entire generation of forestry experts. He died on 14 April 2015 at the age of 75.
Striking the right balance
In person
The name Peter Frischknecht is synonymous with the Department of Environmental Systems Science. He has been in charge of coordinating the department and its study course for 25 years ¨C with great success.
A plea for dual careers
In person
For Columnist Ursula Keller, a dual career means neither partner has to give up their dream. Paternity policies and dual career hiring protocol would promote equal opportunity.
Like WEEE Man from the waste
In person
Together with industry, politics and legislation, we need to find a route towards a healthy environment and a more considerate use of our raw materials, writes columnist Ulrike Kastrup.
Making the switch takes time and needs incentives
In person
Sustainability is a hot topic of our time. Despite dedicated people and good approaches, making the switch is difficult. Long-term changes in behaviour can be best achieved by using gamification, writes guest author Monika Hardmeier.
We built this city¡ from waste
In person
What we throw away may be a valuable renewable resource for building materials. Marta H. Wisniewska explains the future destiny of refuse.
¡°Prototyping¡± simply means to try out
- Rubriken
- In person
- Internal news
Stanford does things differently: it tests on a small scale and sees how things develop instead of conducting lengthy evaluations. ETH can learn a lot from this approach, thinks columnist Julia Wysling.