Did you know that building projects are responsible for between 5 and 10 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions? That’s even more than air travel, something that, as expats, many of our members think about.
At Wohnen+ Basel, one of our core principles is “it’s about our environment.” As a group and as individuals, we are committed to finding more sustainable ways of living. A recent article in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung reminded us how our new homes in Basel are helping us to live up to this commitment.
The June 4 article features the Westfeld project, and its impact on the Iselin Quartier, a short ride from the Basel city centre. It goes on to say that as much as 50% of emissions from this major polluting industry.are accounted for by the manufacture of concrete.
Fortunately, re-using old buildings can reduce this impact.
Our new homes will be in the main building of the former Felix Platter hospital. Rather than following the familiar tradition involving demolition and re-build, planners took the imaginative decision to refurbish this fine 1960s building – a much more sustainable approach that greatly reduces the need for new concrete.
We can be proud that our future homes in this new Quartier im Quartier will help reduce environmental impact while meeting the challenges of modern urban living.