We must take innovative measures to source ideas for how we build back circular to explore and develop a future model. Therefore, this session will also bring into focus how we can work faster and smarter to bolster the circular economy thinking in buildings.

Adopting circular economy approaches in high growth, high-waste sector like the built environment presents a tremendous opportunity for businesses, governments, and cities to minimize structural waste and thus realize greater value from built environment assets. It is time to reshape our urban future and move from principles to practices. During the session, visionary practitioners will provide their perspectives on partnerships as key to understanding and solving tomorrow’s challenges.

Watch the webinar: https://vimeo.com/623785090/7b38aec607

Learning objectives

• Design sits prominently at the heart of the circular economy. It requires us to redesign everything: products, business models, cities, and the linear systems that have lasted for the past centuries.
• The greatest opportunities are realized when the circular economy is applied to strategic decision making – varying from design to selection of products. Innovative projects and cases will be presented.
• To accelerate the circular economy in the built environment, partnerships are key and may come in many forms and shapes. Through the Build Back Circular challenge, Barnard College enters into new partnerships to reach its goal of becoming a circular campus.

Key takeaways

• Cities are on the front lines – both as a source and as a key solution to a substantial part of the climate challenge, and that buildings are key in tackling climate change.
• We must think of our carbon footprint as a value by combining circular economy with strategic decision making.
• By challenging the way we use and reuse resources in the building industry new best practices occur.
• Moving the construction industry to a circular economy model the top focus areas are 1) design efficiently, 2) urban mining, 3) use more timber, 4) change the industry by specifying more sustainable alternatives, 5) build less.
• Through partnerships businesses and cities can accelerate toward a circular economy.

Practical information

• Session: Why We must Build Back Circular
• Conference: Building Energy NYC
• Organizers, Danish Cleantech Hub, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)
• Date: September 30, 2021
• Speakers: Tom Kennedy (Arup), Kåre Stokholm Poulsgaard (3XN/GXN), Oliver Neve (Ramboll), Sandra Goldmark (Barnard College)
• Moderated by: Mille Munksgaard (Danish Cleantech Hub)
• Watch the webinar: https://vimeo.com/623785090/7b38aec607

Toward 2030: From Climate Policy to Climate Action is a unique transatlantic event, which aims to create a space for cleantech leaders to discuss climate change action – from the national to the local level – in creating a more resilient and green economy with a focus on business opportunities and job creation potential. Instead of simply reinventing an outdated economic model, countries, cities, and companies must look towards green recovery strategies to create sustainable growth that is beneficial for the climate, the economy, and our health.

With the UN General Assembly as the backdrop, the event convenes clean economy leaders from the private sector national governments, cities, financial institutions, and civil society. Take part in the virtual event together with progressive American and Danish peers, with speakers such as:

• Andrew Kessler, President, NY Green Bank
• Dan Egan, Vice President, Vornado Realty Trust
• Danielle Merfeld, VP and CTO, Generel Electric (GE)
• Doreen Harris, CEO and President, NYSERDA
• Finn Mortensen, Executive Director, State of Green
• John Galyen, President, Danfoss North America
• John Lochner, VP Innovation, NYSERDA
• Lars Sandahl Sørensen, CEO and Director General, Confederation of Danish Industry
• Rory Moss, President, ROCKWOOL North America
• Torben Möger Pedersen, CEO, PensionDanmark

Climate Week New York is an opportunity for climate experts, political decision-makers and industry leaders to discuss the road to a green and sustainable transition and by joining forces, Danish Cleantech Hub, NYSERDA and State of Green provide a platform, for the participants to share insights across sectors on how to proceed and ensure a green, sustainable transition through partnerships.

Register for the event and find more information about the program HERE.

Rising populations, aging infrastructure, and climate change pose serious challenges for cities across the world. With 70 percent of cities already dealing with the effects of climate change, and a projected 68 percent of the world projected to be living in cities by 2050, smart cities and urban technologies are essential investments for a sustainable and equitable urban future.

One company that can provide smart city technology is Suncil.

Suncil is a Danish producer of solar powered street lighting and solar column solutions, which includes standalone solar powered luminaire that provides light throughout the night, regardless of the previous days’ weather conditions. Their innovative lighting technology, aesthetically pleasing product design and their aim for the best possible solutions – for both their customers and for their planet, has made Suncil a growing leader in delivering sustainable solar powered street lighting.

Suncil has recently been acquired by MAKEEN Energy, and this has created an increase in production capacity and reduced distribution time. Due to this acquisition, Suncil is now seeking new business opportunities in the US.

To gain a better understanding of the American market, Suncil has reached out to Danish Cleantech Hub, the American lead in the Access Cities project, to seek consultancy on possible company growth and market expansion strategy.

Due to Suncil’s product, the analytical scope will be focused on the “sunshine” states California, Nevada and Florida. Here, Danish Cleantech Hub will provide an overview of which approvals and jurisdictions the products must fulfil within the different states.

For more information on the Suncil case, or how Access Cities can help your company do business in New York, please contact Danish Cleantech Hub.

Interested in exploring the market opportunities for smart city technologies? Download our smart city roadmap HERE.

“Generous buildings, public spaces, landscapes and urban plans can change the world. Not as singular iconic gestures but as a collective approach to creating sustainable environments”.

For the Danish architectural firm, ADEPT, the above statement outlines their approach toward architecture. Here, they use generosity as the primary tool, and this has led to multiple projects in the fields of culture, public space, and urbanism. ADEPT follows the holistic approach where all components are taken into consideration. Here, the building is seen as a tool to optimize and improve the social surroundings around it.

As for Adept, their projects have primarily been in Europe but now the US market is calling.

Finding the right partners for US entry

The practice of architecture is a heavily regulated and protected profession in the US. The laws governing the practice of architecture differ from state to state, and any architectural firm must comply with the local state laws in which the architectural service is provided. To comply with this complexity, the Access Cities program have helped ADEPT in identifying potential market entry strategies and partners, that can help smooth the transition into the US market for ADEPT.

Here, Danish Cleantech Hub, the New York lead on the Access Cities program, have identified three potential market entry strategies and establishment scenarios, with the aim of giving ADEPT a thorough understanding of the regulatory issues and requirements in establishing and operating an architectural firm in the US.

In conclusion, the conducted analysis has provided ADEPT insight into possible market entry strategies and potential partners in the US. Thus, Danish Cleantech Hub were able to come with suggestions and strategic considerations for ADEPT that could help ADEPT in making a strategic choice in their potential US market entry.

For more information on the Adept case, or how Access Cities can help your company do business in New York, please contact Danish Cleantech Hub.

REIMAGINE-REBUILD-RENEW

Last week Governor Cuomo announced the 2021 agenda ‘Reimagine-Rebuild-Renew’ for New York. In the light of Covid-19, New York is facing critical issues that calls for action. During the State of the State Address 2021 Governor Cuomo announced that New York is now taking a bold move facing the climate crisis.

With their 2021 agenda, New York is paving its way with ambitious proposals and investments within the green energy economy. Among other things, the agenda features initiatives which focus on creating the largest offshore wind program in the US, make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse, and create a green energy transmission superhighway. This will not only be rewarding for New Yorkers, but it will also support communities and small businesses.

In a statement from Governor Cuomo, it is stated: “Green energy is a pressing moral imperative and a prime economic opportunity. New York can and will be the nation’s leader for renewable energy innovation and production, all while securing jobs of the future for New Yorkers. Our entire green energy program will create a total 12,400 megawatts of green energy to power 6 million homes, directly create more than 50,000 jobs, and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state.”

The proposals include public-private partnerships to build nearly 100 renewable energy projects, construction of New York’s green energy transmission superhighway, development and deployment of energy storage and investments in training New Yorkers for jobs in the wind and renewable energy sector.

By investing in a green economic recovery, New York is truly setting their steppingstones for becoming a green, sustainable city in the after shakes of Covid-19. With their new 2021 agenda, it will create demand for the most well-innovated green energy solutions across nations, and thus open new doors for companies within the green energy economy.

Read more on the 2021 agenda ‘Reimagine-Rebuild-Renew’ HERE.

It is estimated that by 2050 two thirds of the worlds’ population will live in cities. Knowing that urbanization continues to accelerate globally, it is time to make effort in accommodating the demand for cities and buildings that can enable better health and well-being for citizens.

Buildings must simply be re-innovated in terms of design and how we use them. Knowing that buildings account for up to 40% of global waste and 39% of energy-related CO2 pollution, it is necessary to innovate and be creative in how we can combat climate change through buildings.

To combat this rise in demand, it is time for holistic, cross-sectoral partnerships and new technologies to create buildings that enable global population to thrive socially, and physically.
In Denmark, the government has been retrofitting buildings for years in efforts to make them more sustainable, resilient and healthier for citizens. This has made Denmark a frontrunner in the building industry, leading Danish companies toward immense opportunities in exporting sustainable solutions.

The international launch event

On October 30^th Danish Cleantech Hub, State of Green and Creative Denmark launched the Beyond Buildings white paper internationally. As part of the launch event, Danish and American experts discussed how we can create future sustainable cities for citizens.

Speakers included Simon Kollerup, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Janet Joseph, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Market Development, NYSERDA, Kim Rahbek, Chairman Business Lolland-Falster, Karen Roiy, Director of Global Industry Affairs at Danfoss, Neel Strøbæk, Senior Group Director at Rambøll and many more.

Watch the international launch event on-demand HERE.

Beyond Buildings – Buildings as a key element for sustainable cities

In the new white paper, the idea of buildings being just buildings is being crushed. Instead, the white paper puts focus on the idea of making the citizens as the center of sustainable cities. Here, holistic solutions and cross-sectoral partnerships within industries is being presented through a variety of inspiring cases, in both Danish and International context.

“Without the help of businesses, we will not meet our green ambitions. Therefore, we must help
businesses around the world to contribute to the green transition by sharing our common knowledge and experiences. This white paper highlights leading enterprises and solutions that use creativity as a crucial catalyst to support the development of sustainable and innovative practices and solutions in and around the built environment.” – Simon Kollerup, Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.

Download the new white paper Beyond Buildings HERE.

If you have any questions related to the Beyond Buildings white paper or Danish Cleantech Hub, please feel free to reach out to Mille Munksgaard, Advisor, at mimu@di.dk.

SOLVE A LOCAL CHALLENGE

New York and its municipalities are on a mission to improve public services through the installation of Intelligent outdoor light as part of the “Smart Street Lighting NY” program. It has created an opportunity for Danish startups and SMEs to demonstrate coherent and solid multifunctional intelligent LED light solutions. Solutions, that are not only energy efficient, but also improves connectivity, public health and safety. So, are you a Danish based Lighting company, or maybe you produce the new smart application that New York’s municipalities need to hear about? Then this challenge program might be something for you!

THE PROGRAM

To solve the challenge – the Danish Cleantech Hub and Gate21 have developed a program for Danish SMEs to encourage participation in solving the challenge. The program is a unique opportunity for you, to explore a new market and gain insights about potential partners, buyers and local market opportunities. Also, it provides you with an opportunity to pitch your solutions directly to the challenge owner, as well as other American public and private purchasers based on NYC.

The program is divided into two parts:
1) A day where we learn more about how to access the American lighting and Smart City-market, followed by a solution workshop to prepare for the pitch finale
2) A day with the opportunity to pitch your solution to a panel consisting of the challenge owners and other American public and private purchasers based on NYC.

Check out the program of the solution workshop day and the pitch finale HERE.

THE CHALLENGE: THE CAMPUS AT 12^TH STREET

The challenge has been submitted by The VOREA Group, Long Island City Partnership and the International Nighttime Design Initiative and the goal is to turn the Campus at 12^th street in Long Island City (NYC) into a viable and vibrant neighborhood hub for the community. With strategic implementation of smart lighting systems, that bring people together, the Campus at 12^th Street is primed to be an iconic destination for Long Island City and across the five boroughs. Among others, the challenge owners wish to:

• Attract customers to retail and hospitality offerings at night
• Connectivity of campus
• Safe outdoor space for community during COVID-19
• Increase activity on sidewalks
• Better street lighting

The challenge owners ask solution providers to propose two living lab themes within their pitch: 1) a showcase of best practice public lighting – beyond the street pole Lumiere typical and 2) facilitate community-based research such as surveys, interviews, quantitative counts etc., to understand how visitors can be attracted both new and old, how to attract new tenants and much more.

Through out the next week, Danish Cleantech Hub and Gate21 will collaborate with the challenge owners to prepare the challenge for the solution workshop day where it will be presented.

SIGN UP

Participation in the program is free and developed for Danish SMEs that produce smart outdoor lighting components and producers of smart city solutions.

Register HERE or reach out to Mille Munksgaard from Danish Cleantech Hub at mimu@di.dk or Maja Yhde from Gate21 at maja.yhde@gate21.dk if you have any questions.

ORGANIZING PARTNERS

Looking for New Partners to Solve a Challenge?

Do you have a challenge you would liked solved by an international crossdisciplinary team of Nordic frontrunners? And co-create a solution with fellow passionadas from different fields of knowledge? Now is your chance! In a new free to program, international challenge owner can pitch a problem, and if selected, get a team of innovation solution providers to come up with new ideas. Challenge owners can be a city agency, a private developer, a solution provider or anything in between. This fall 2020 BLOXHUB is especially looking for challenges with a circular potential.

Bridging Urban Challenges of Today with Solutions of Tomorrow

BLOXHUB in Copenhagen matches the right people to help develop solutions, networks and new partnerships – to create better cities. The Business Match workshop program establishes partnerships with a potential of generating business nationally and internally, co-create concrete solutions or services on urban challenges and lift the participants innovation capacity into new cross-disciplinary business partnerships and opportunities nationally and internationally.

Contact Tone Søndergaard at tone@di.dk to learn more about Business Match

The climate change movement has gained serious momentum in recent years. Spearheaded by government and the private sector, more and more stakeholders are signing up to set and help meet energy and climate targets, taking more responsibility by curbing emissions and making significant investments in clean energy and sustainability measures.

Visit the conference website for all he deatils.

New York’s Next Nickname: The Big Sponge?

Read the article on the successful  NYC-Copenhagen collaboration in The New York Times.

Copenhagen-New York Collaboration Leads to Cloudburst Management Being Included in NYC Resilience Plan

The ongoing knowledge exchange between New York City and Copenhagen has lead to a 3-year official collaboration on Climate Adaptation and Cloudburst Management, with Danish Cleantech Hub as local facilitator in NYC.

Read the study