The presentation at myclimate foundation’s “most senior” educational project. Since 2006, trainees at companies or vocational schools have been able to implement their own projects, thereby gaining valuable practical experience and generating added value. A total of 157 projects were submitted in the 2017/18 training year, falling just short of the record-setting year. Twelve teams were placed on a short list beforehand, three in each of the four project categories: Energy, Sensitisation, Innovation and Planning.
From Vision to Concrete Project: The 2017/18 Winners
The first prize was awarded in the category of Sensitisation. Tim Stadelmann, Matthias Roth, Sonja Helfer and Marcel Zihlmann combined to form a team with members from different training years and apprenticeship trades at Emmi Switzerland Ltd. Their project <link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/sensibilisierung-beim-haendewaschen-2/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"Sensitization for Hand Washing"</link> had already won over the jury in the first edition of the “Company Challenge” in 2017. The idea of shooting their own informational film encouraging employees to use one less paper towel and broadcasting the video on Emmi TV likewise impressed the judges of the “Energy and Climate Laboratory”, who appreciated its measurable impact. The project reached 3,000 people and demonstrated high savings potential in terms of resources and material costs.
Oliver Zaugg and Miro Pauli, prospective bricklayers in their third training year at the Com-mercial/Industrial Vocational School Muttenz (GIBM), were thrilled to receive the grand prize in the Innovation category. Their project <link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/ecowork/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"ECOWORK"</link> provides comprehensive descriptions of forward-looking solutions for saving energy in the construction industry. The goal is to improve work techniques and tools. As part of the project, they both conducted a long interview with Peter Pauli, an entrepreneur and former CEO of Meyer Burger Technologie Ltd. in Thun.
The winners of the Planning category were Janik Mathys and Kim Schulze, a duo of polymechanics in their third training year at the Vocational Training Centre (BBZ) Biel. Their project <link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/die-zu-warme-stube/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"Die zu warme Stube"</link> (The Overheated Room) examined room temperature control, especially in companies, and involved surveying employees of Gleason-Pfauter. In the course of their evaluation they managed to demonstrate major potential for energy savings, and hence, climate protection.
<link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/die-zukunft-liegt-in-der-gebaeudeautomation/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"The future lies in Building Automation"</link> was the title of the jury’s favourite project in the Energy category. Joël Gruber, Sandro Wernli and Nikita Stutz are apprentice automation engineers in their second training year at libs Industrial Apprenticeship Switzerland in Birr. With HomeMatic IP systems, they were able to both automate the heating at the company and increase the energy efficiency of the lighting in just a single step. They also integrated multiple automated charging sockets into this system to combat unnecessary standby times.
Another first in 2018 was the awarding of a day prize by everyone present for the best presentation delivered on-site, on the stage and at the previous project market. The <link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/die-welt-aufforsten/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"Die Welt aufforsten"</link> (Reforest the World”) team, composed of computer science trainees Sam Wymann and Jean-Michel Carrel of the Commercial and Industrial Training College in Bern, was excited to receive the award sponsored by SV Hotel. The duo started out in the Sensitisation category.
A public vote had already been taken in advance for the audience award. It was conferred during the ceremony to the <link www.energie-klimawerkstatt.ch/fr/participer/projets/projects-detail/energiesparduden/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">"Energiesparduden"</link> (“Energy Savings Book”) team (Lea Strässle and Lorena Märki, polygraphs in their second training year at the School of Design Aargau).
The “Energy and Climate Laboratory”
The project year and the 2018 awards ceremony were made possible by support from partners such as <link www.suisseenergie.ch/home.aspx - external-link "Opens external link in current window">SuisseEnergie</link>, <link www.griesser.ch/en/home - external-link "Opens external link in current window">Griesser Storen</link>, <link www.sv-hotel.ch/de/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">SV Hotel</link>, <link group.emmi.com/en/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">Emmi </link>and the <link www.stiftungwegweiser.ch - external-link "Opens external link in current window">Wegweiser Foundation</link> as sponsors of the event and by the host, <link www.hsr.ch/de/ - external-link "Opens external link in current window">HSR</link>.