Germany bans plastic bags
The German government has decided to ban plastic bags, including those made from recycled plastic. The only exception will be the thin bags used for fruits and vegetables. Germany is taking the battle against...
Tagged: Germany
Manufacturers should pay for plastic waste disposal, says Germany
The German environment ministry wants manufacturers of disposable products to contribute to the costs of keeping cities clean. In a first step, it is launching a study aimed at determining how many fast-food packaging,...
Microplastic particles found in snow
Researchers in Germany and Switzerland have found microplastic in snow in the Alps and the Arctic. The minute particles are transported by the atmosphere and washed out of the air, especially by snow. Microplastic...
Germany threatens Norway’s e-mobility lead
Germany registered 48,000 new electric vehicles in the first half of 2019, making it the third largest e-mobility market in the world – and now the largest in Europe. China and the USA remain...
Smart Energy Study: Unsatisfied customers and great potential of user innovation
Smart energy technologies such as intelligent electricity meters, smart home networking applications and smart home solutions not only promise to reduce your own power requirements. They also have the potential to make electricity generation...
Germany to trial free public transport to curb pollution
To avoid EU fines for excessive air pollution, the German government is considering making public transport free of charge. The move could reduce the number of private cars and cut emissions. In a bid to...
Germany building world’s largest passive house complex
The world’s largest passive housing complex is currently being built in Germany. With 15,150 square metres of usable floor space, the commercial and residential complex prioritises energy efficiency and community living. Heidelberg Village, which...
Solar panels are contagious
The likelihood of installing solar panels increases when your neighbours or acquaintances have them as well, finds a new study. It shows that social factors play a major role in the energy transition. A...
Record year for renewable energy
Renewable energy delivered more power in Germany in 2015 than any other energy source— one of several records broken in the German energy system last year. Every third kilowatt-hour of energy came from a...
Germany moves forward with bicycle highway
Germany has just opened the first five kilometres of a 100-kilometre bicycle highway. The bicycle-only route will connect 10 cities and four universities in the Ruhr region in the western part of the country....
Air pollution kills millions each year
Each year 3.3 million people die prematurely from the effects of air pollution worldwide – a figure that could double by 2050 if emissions continue to rise at the current rate. Elke Bunge reports...
Germany turning cold war military bases into wildlife sanctuaries
62 disused military bases along the edge of the former Iron Curtain are being turned into nature reserves, providing 31,000 hectares of protected land for eagles, woodpeckers, bats, beetles and other rare or threatened...
American cities emit far more light pollution than their German counterparts
New research shows that American cities emit far more light per capita than comparably sized German cities. The results could help identify areas where light could be used more efficiently and minimise the negative...
Toxic batteries from Ghana recycled in Germany
In an innovative international cooperation, lead-acid batteries collected in Ghana have been recycled in an environmentally sound manner in Germany. Experts neutralised the battery acid and achieved a very high lead recycling rate. The...
Certificate for first Passive House supermarket
A supermarket in Germany has met the Passive House criteria, a first for this type of large-scale building. Its cooling and lighting systems are highly efficient and reduce energy consumption as much as possible....
