Wednesday, April 26, 2012, VIA University College, represented by Heidi S. Merrild, Andri Lehn and Per Christensen, was the host of an Energy Efficient Building conference approaching the innovative Cradle to Cradle Concept. The purpose of the event was to draw awareness upon the existing situation of material and energy usage and introduce other countries experience of C2C inspired building.

The Cradle to Cradle concept is based on gradually eliminating the concept of waste, celebrating diversity and anticipating evolution. Using the most pure fuel- the sun. Cradle to cradle approach could be the box that unfolds the architectural answer to circular systems.

VIA University College steps out into the reframing C2C ideology. In collaboration with the Danish Technology Institute and WorldFLEXhome we were proudly introduced to VIA Energy Park. The park will function as “a living laboratory for industrialized energy efficient sustainable building and renewable energy sources.” The innovation platform is planning to work as a collaboration project between students, VIA experts, research institutions and private partners. It has been adopted as a solution applicable under the utopian SUSTAINIA 100 ideology, created by Bente Milton and Laura Storm. (www.sustainia.me)

Among the speakers, there was Marleen Lodder – PhD candidate Area Development at Erasmus University Rotterdam – introducing her thesis on Innovation and Quality. Working in collaboration with Michael Braungart on area development she wants to unfold solutions for a future inspired by the Cradle to Cradle philosophy. Study cases as the one on Merwe-Vierhavens and RDM Campus in Rotterdam is a milestone for the research. (http://www.scienceportholland.nl/merwevierhavensrdmcampus.php)

The people who live in an area make the area alive .

Rinus van den Berg – conceptual C2C designer working for DSM gave an overview upon the “Final Interface” phenomena and the impact of this in eco-effective design . A few examples of life-cycle analysis based on evaluation of environmental toxicity impact were introduced. As a conclusion he drew awareness upon the importance of the chain control when engaging in the reusable or decomposition inspired design.
Prof. Peter G. Luscuere was invited to speak about the Quality of energy having as parameters the ecology (looking into biodiversity, health and climate), the economy (looking into scarcity, PR and the balance between cost and benefit) and the equity. The interdependence between Energy and Exergy contribute in the final quality of energy. Examples as the stirling engine, heat pump, fuel cells and algae were meant to give a better overview on the analysis.
Carla Smink from Aalborg University and Helene Hennings from Anholt school gave the audience an insight into the Cradle to Cradle Islands project developed by six countries around the North Sea, and more specifically presented the current situation on Anholt Island .

C2C Islands website: http://c2cislands.org/

The conference was completed in a perfect circle by the GXN Morten Norman Lund Cand. Polyt. Arch. Mr. Lund specified the importance of approaching a holistic overview upon advanced geometry by focusing on concrete C2C examples as Bornholm, Louisiana Cradle to Cradle pavilion and Green Solution House.
You can find out more about the conference by accessing www.viauc.com

Daniela Nan, Student Council member at VIA UC