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Science podcast: The 2000-watt society – A Swiss experiment in sustainable living

The Swiss Connection science podcast
SWI swissinfo.ch


Can we live a good life using significantly less energy? Switzerland's '2000-watt society' concept aims to answer this question, with pioneering projects demonstrating its feasibility.

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I lead diverse teams of distribution specialists and multimedia journalists in creating multilingual content for a range of online platforms. I oversee the strategic development of our podcast and video products, driving innovative content creation and audience engagement. After training as a broadcast journalist at City University of London, I worked in production and on-air as a journalist or contributor for a range of prime-time TV and radio programmes at top-tier broadcasters including the BBC, NPR, Deutsche Welle, and various commercial networks.

My work is focused on making videos and podcasts about science and technology topics. I specialize in developing explainatory video formats for mobile viewing, mixing animation and documentary styles. I studied filmmaking and animation at Zurich University of the Arts and began working as a video journalist at SWI swissinfo.ch in 2004. Since then I have specialised in creating different styles of animation for our visual products.

I cover climate and sustainability topics with a data-driven perspective. Trained as a journalist but working as a data scientist, I combine storytelling with analysis to uncover the facts behind Switzerland’s green transition. At SWI swissinfo.ch, I focus on how climate change affects daily life and what solutions can make a difference.

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In this episode of ‘The Swiss Connection’ science podcast, Kristian Foss Brandt takes us to the the Hunziker Areal in Zurich, a housing complex built 10 years ago, that serves as a living laboratory for the 2000-watt society concept.

First proposed by researchers at the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich in the late 1990s, the 2000-watt society envisions each person consuming no more than 2,000 watts of energy a year – roughly one-third of today’s average Swiss consumption. This ambitious goal is crucial for Switzerland’s climate strategy. While reducing energy consumption involves obvious changes when it comes to heating and transportation, a significant portion of energy is “hidden” in our consumption of food, clothing, and electronics.

Residents of the Hunziker Areal aim to meet the 2000-watt target through energy-efficient buildings, shared resources and conscious lifestyle choices. While challenges remain, particularly with air travel emissions, the project demonstrates that a comfortable, low-energy urban lifestyle is achievable, inspiring similar initiatives across Switzerland.

Find out more about the ‘The Swiss Connection’ science podcast and our other Swiss podcasts in English here, on Apple PodcastsExternal link, or SpotifyExternal link.

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