21 March 2012
On 19 March 2012, UvA employee Theo van Lieshout won the Sustainable University Award 2011-2012 for his project Energie uit onverwachte hoek (Energy from an unexpected angle). The winning idea seeks to utilise heat emissions for the climate control of buildings. The prize was awarded by University Professor Louise Fresco. The jury report praised the project for its creativity, innovation and sustainability.
The Energy from an unexpected angle project team consists of Van Lieshout, sixteen HvA students and six UvA students. The idea is to generate cooling by means of thermal radiation, then transport it and use it. This cooling can be used directly or converted into mechanical/electrical energy. Cold can sometimes be more valuable than heat. It is most efficient to use it directly in order to cool spaces.
The award consists of support, once a grant request has been submitted, for further research and the idea will be implemented for the next new construction project.
The second prize went to Rian Verpalen for her idea to make the official car of the Executive Board an electric vehicle. Martijn Dekker took third place with the proposal to recycle plastic in addition to paper.
The Sustainable University Award is presented to an employee or student who has the best plan to make the UvA and HvA more sustainable. The award aims to make students and staff aware of the ways in which they can contribute to a sustainable environment.