Eawag
Überlandstrasse 133
P.O.Box 611
8600 Dübendorf
Switzerland

Ph. +41 (0)58 765 55 11
Fax +41 (0)58 765 50 28
info@eawag.ch
Sustainable Development » Eco Team » Projects
Eawag - Aquatic Research
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Eco Team
Projects

Projects

Rumba at Eawag

Eawag has practiced environmental management since the 90’s. Since 2003 this has taken place under the guidelines of Rumba. Rumba is the resource and environmental management program of the ETH domain and federal administration. Rumba is an overarching and continuous project with annual action plans and objectives. These are based on an annual compilation of key data that are collected on a regular basis in the framework of a system analysis.

100 % renewable energy Eawag

The Eco Team of Eawag has appealed to the directorate to set new energy objectives. On December 4th 2006 the directorate approved the following objectives

Eawag will take all necessary steps to ensure that the full electricity and heating requirements are covered in an environmentally friendly way by renewable energy.

  • Starting from January 2007 energy procurement has been progressively moved to green electricity naturemade star, fully covering the needs by 2010 in Dübendorf effective January 2012 also in Kastanienbaum. The Label naturemade star was co-developed by Eawag. It ensures that hydroelectricity respects the ecological framework and remains dedicated to sustainable development. As it is not possible to acquire naturemade star certified electricity in Dübendorf this will be achieved by purchasing certificates. This means that the same quantity of green energy that financed by Eawag will be sold elsewhere at the price of normal energy.
  • Eawag will render its mobility carbon-neutral. Carbon output, not just for air travel, but for all mobility requirements - except for public transport - is compensated through a carbon tax and funding of appropriate projects.

Eawag produces own solar electricity. On July 12th 2007 the Eawag directorate approved the extension of photovoltaic production. The extension in Kastanienbaum was completed in autumn 2007. The current installations will provide 71MWh of solar energy to cover internal needs, of which 65MWh in Dübendorf. An additional installation is planned on the renovated office building in Dübendorf. This plant of 60MWh will be built in 2012/2013. In 2010 and 2011 2000MWh of naturemade star green energy have been be purchased. This is equivalent to nearly 100% of the electricity consumption by Eawag Dubendorf excluding our own production. Of the purchased electricity 97.5% comes from certified hydroelectric plants , 2.5% comes from a wind power plant. Besides the carbon tax on air travel (since 2003), Eawag has imposed an eco tax on car usage for service journeys since the late 90’s. During 2008 these taxes were reconsidered and reformulated with the aim of achieving a carbon neutral operation. More details on current eco taxes can be found in the “Travel” section.

Staff restaurant «aQa»

The Eawag Forum Chriesbach building houses a modern, spacious and attractive staff restaurant offering balanced, seasonal dishes optionally of organic origin. Based on an extensive and detailed analysis and visits to reference institutions we entrusted the management of the restaurant to DRS (Département Social Romand).
The restaurant aQa is Goût Mieux certified. The fish list of WWF Switzerland is applied.

The Eco Team advises and supports the Goût Mieux operation with campaigns.

The restaurant aQa is also open to the public (Non-smoking establishment; open Mo-Fr 08:00 - 15:30).

Buildings

The Eco Team supervises buildings- and operation-activities in direct collaboration with the Technical Services department.

In order to satisfy new needs in terms of real estate, Eawag implemented the Forum Chriesbach in Dübendorf together with Empa and a broad planning team. The members of the Eco Team were consulted from the initial formulation of the project requirements. Aspects of sustainable development were given high priority from the start. The requirements were: maximise the autonomy of energy supply based on renewable energy sources, an exemplary use of water (incl. the separation of urine), the use of ecological materials and landscaping that is both ecological and pleasing. Since July 2006 this is the headquarters of Eawag.
Information and pictures

In addition to the ongoing optimisation of operations, a project to determine the energy balance of the Forum Chriesbach, funded by the federal energy department BFE, was be implemented in 2008. This project was be concluded on January 23rd with a public conference (Eawag Forum Chriesbach: vision and reality). Along with members of the Eco Team, experts from Empa and 3-Plan Haustechnik AG were involved in the project.

Having been substantially renovated and two floors added, the 1960’s office building was brought back into operation. This made it possible to discontinue the rent on an energy inefficient building.

The laboratory building in Dübendorf has been renovated in 2009 until spring 2010 and the laboratory building in Kastanienbaum in (2010 - 2012). This projects are particularly demanding, as parts of the laboratory must remain operational throughout.

Landscaping remains an important concern. In June 2008 Eawag was awarded a prize by the conservation club of Dübendorf for the near-natural design and maintenance of the company grounds.

Together with our partners a revitalisation project for the Chriesbach (creek) is currently under construction. The Eawag segment will include an outdoor laboratory (implementation 2013).

Travel

In order to promote environmentally friendly business and private transport Eawag has decided to further increase the federal discounts (financed by taxes for car parking and car travelling). This regulation, in force since 2002, was created on the initiative of the Eco Team. For 2ndclass general season tickets employees receive a subsidy of 1’093 CHF, for a 1st class season ticket they receive a subsidy of 1’430 CHF. In agreement with federal regulations, employees that are hired for at least 1 year receive a free half-price pass.

For air travel the carbon tax ranges from a minimum of 20 CHF to 200 CHF. This tax is used to promote carbon reducing measures at Eawag (see section bicycles for a detail of how this is currently being used). Since 2003, for air travel that is paid for with third party funding, the foundation myclimate - the Climate Protection Partnership is supported.

Bicycles

During 2008 and 2010 the bicycle stands in Dübendorf were extended and improved. Money from the carbon compensation scheme was paid for a new installation. Existing installations were further improved. In 2012/2013, new bicyles stands in Kastanienbaum are being built. Bike sheds for weather protection are performed in a bird-friendly way (http://www.vogelglas.info/public/vogelkiller2en.pdf).

Since 2003 the Eco Team has collected defective and abandoned bicycles on the site. Further bicycles were donated. 50 have been repaired and are back in use, 5 can be borrowed for short spells (i.e several hours) and the remainder can be rented for free for up to a year against a deposit. Interested parties should contact the workshop (Peter Gäumann). A comparable offer is available at Eawag Kastanienbaum.

The collection scheme for abandoned bicycles takes place every year.

In 2004 and 2009 Eawag received a prize from ProVelo Schweiz for its efforts to improve links to public transport. Effective May 2010 a joined bicycle stand Eawag-Empa at the new Stettbach station has been opened.

Biker-friendly business and more information to bicycle loan

Since 2006 Eawag successfully participated in the 'Bike to work' campaign.

Waste disposal

At Eawag various kinds of refuse are collected separately and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. By separating waste and working with recycling firms, the re-use of raw materials through current technology can be ensured.

Ecological purchasing, handling of chemicals

Eawag is one of the founding members of the IGÖB (Interest group for ecological purchasing) and is committed to following its guidelines.

The Eco Team is committed to the resource-preserving use of chemicals at Eawag.
All purchases since the introduction of VSoft can be viewed via the Eawag Intranet (Finances->Purchasing & Procurements).

Communication

  • Information about current projects will be made available according to needs. Eawag employees can find information about the activities of the Eco Team under “News” and meeting minutes are made available via Life@Eawag.
  • Every spring a short article will be prepared for the annual report. This, together with the homepage, forms our environmental report.


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