IFEU news

Solid Waste Management GHG Calculator for developing and emerging countries

26.01.2010 Developing and emerging countries may improve their greenhouse gas (GHG) balance significantly by establishing sustainable solid waste management systems. Material recycling and waste-to energy strategies contribute to GHG savings and methane emissions from landfill are avoided. The “Tool for Calculating GHG emissions in Solid Waste Management (SWM-GHG Calculator)” is an Excel based tool to aid in understanding the effects of proper waste management on GHG emissions. The SWM-GHG Calculator allows quantification and comparison of GHG emissions for different waste management strategies at an early stage in the decision making process. The SWM-GHG Calculator was developed on behalf of KfW Development Bank (German Financial Development Cooperation) in cooperation with GTZ (German Technical Development Cooperation). Information are also available from KFW Development Bank

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Modellstadt Mannheim

15.12.09 In the research project „Modellstadt Mannheim“, customers of the energy provider MVV-Energie AG in Mannheim have the opportunity to participate in a field test on smart metering, in 2010. With detailed information via internet on their own energy consumption, flexible tariffs and remote load control of electric devices, the customers can contribute to optimising their own energy cost as well as the future energy systems. The IFEU provides scientific support for the research project and evaluates the field test. You are welcome to participate in the field test and you will find more information on www.modellstadt-mannheim.de.

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Competition for the "Most Innovative Electricity Bills"

14.12.09 In 2009, the province of Baden-Württemberg arranged a competition for the “Most Innovative Electricity Bill”. All energy providers with customers in Baden-Württemberg were eligible to take part. The competition was organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs within the “Baden-Württemberg Strategy for Sustainability”. The objective of it was to make the customers aware of their own energy consumption in order to improve the energy efficiency.

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Green electricity

There has been an increasing demand for green electricity in the last few years. With this growing market the question for the environmental benefit is being raised because the impact on the environment of the different kinds of green electricity varies greatly.
In cooperation with the Öko-Institut e.V. (Institute for Applied Ecology), the Wuppertal Institute and Ö-Quadrat, the IFEU-Institut composed a paper on how to include green electricity into the carbon-footprint of communities.

Paper of discussion (in German)

Renewable Energies - Innovations for a Sustainable Energy Future

15.09.09 The brochure "Renewable Energies" has been published by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Saftey(BMU), under coordination by IFEU, for then years now and was now updated.
During this time the the technologies, the social conditions, the promotion instruments, and the knowledge about the ecological aspects of energy supply have made great progress.

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Presserelease (website BMU)

Environtmental Impact of Sweet Sorghum

14.08.09 In light of increased discussions regarding the competition between bioenergy and food, Sweet Sorghum has emerged as a promising energy crop. Due to the fact that it can be used for the production of food, first and second generation biofuels as well as for fertilizer, its cultivation is to be encouraged. However, to date neither a consistent picture nor sufficiently reliable scientific documentation exists regarding the crop’s sustainability.
Consequently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, commissioned the IFEU to investigate the environmental impact of different Sweet Sorghum production systems. These production systems include the production of first and second generation bioethanol from different crop parts as well as a combined use for both biofuels and food.

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New Executive Directors

01.07.09 Jürgen Giegrich (left) and Markus Duscha (right) are the new executive directors of IFEU. Both have been active at IFEU since two decades and as scientific directors. Ulrich Höpfner (63, middle) was on the board of directors of IFEU and has served for 18 years as the institute’s executive director. “I have had 31 years of responsibility for IFEU – now the younger ones should guide the institute. I leave the bridge but not the ship", Höpfner said in a ceremony with symbolic transfer of the keys to IFEU. The new executive directors expressed their heartfelt thanks to him combined with the hope that Ulrich Höpfner will remain available for the entire IFEU with help and advice in addition to the continuation of his work in the area of traffic and the environment.

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