RemiHub is investigating whether and how public spaces can be used as city hubs for sustainable parcel logistics.
Steadily increasing online retailing, rising order frequency, smaller shipment sizes, and customer wishes such as fast delivery times are leading to an ever-increasing number of parcel transport in cities.
The goal of RemiHub is to keep the “last-mile” of parcel delivery from the transshipment point to people’s homes as short as possible. Therefore, RemiHub relies on the temporary shared use of public transport spaces, as these areas are excellently connected to the transport network and are also usually located in the middle of the city. The delivery is based on electric vehicles, focusing on electric bicycles.
Status & Application: Ready-for-market; There are several pilot projects in Vienna, Austria.
URBAN MENUS Analysis
Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.
The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.
Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.
For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.
Happiness
Happiness can be increased in city quarters due to reduced traffic volume and associated positive effects such as lower noise levels. In addition, the service contributes to increased bicycle use and rider safety.
Safety
The most important contribution of remiHub to this theme is road safety, with a lower volume of traffic leading to a lower frequency of accidents. This in turn can increase the general feeling of safety in a city.
Profitability
RemiHub’s concept can lead to reduced economic costs in several sectors: Lower number of accidents, less congestion, reduced climate impact, increase in urban quality of life, employment effects (such as reduction of precarity in parcel logistics).
Innovation
Innovation can be promoted through multiple uses of inner-city space and new cooperation models between key urban players.
Circularity
Circularity is promoted by the use of electric vehicles (mainly bicycles), and the overall reduced amount of delivery traffic due to shorter delivery routes.
Sponge City for Urban Trees is a concept that – using local materials – seeks to ensure a subsoil structure in streets that is conducive to the growth of healthy trees. Trees are not only fundamental to the city’s blue-green infrastructure but are also key to addressing climate change.
The Sponge City for Urban Trees aims to mitigate the climate impact in cities through a blue-green infrastructure based on the healthy growth of urban trees that are the best instrument to cool down the street and foster urban life.
The project aims to implement the Sponge City concept in several Austrian cities by planting trees in streets and squares with a substrate that offers the trees about 30% of cavities where their roots can expand and where the water necessary for their consumption is retained.
Status & Application: The Sponge City for Urban Trees concept has been applied in different cities in Austria.
URBAN MENUS Analysis
Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.
The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.
Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.
For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.
Happiness
Healthy urban trees and an overall greener environment can improve the quality of life and health in cities, therefore contributing to happiness – for instance by creating a more pleasant climate, an improvement of overall appearance and by creating outdoor spaces where people like to spend time together as a community.
Safety
Well-tended, healthy greenery can improve the overall impression of a neighbourhood as well as increase the social climate, thus potentially leading to an increased sense of safety in a community.
Innovation
Even though trees are an integral part of most cities, giving them the root space they need is not commonly practiced yet. The Sponge city approach is innovative in this sense and carries several benefits.
Profitability
Greenery such as urban trees can lead to cooling effects and improve the microclimate in a city, therefore relieving the healthcare system. Furthermore, with the Schwammstadt principle, the lifespan of urban trees is increased, reducing overall costs. Also, it can be an impulse for the emergence of Urban Forestry.
Circularity
Sponge city provides natural air conditioning of the city. It allows the creation of shady, cooling, zones in the city by using trees as infrastructure to create climate-resilient areas without losing the multifunctionality of living urban spaces, using only natural building materials. Furthermore, excess rainwater from heavy rain events can be retained and the groundwater under the city can be replenished.
REScoop.eu is the European network for energy cooperatives that connects citizens to work together for a future with cleaner energy. All citizens are invited to participate and to take action as a community, such as investing in renewable energy installations and energy efficiency measures.
A participatory approach and the sense of being part of a community are fundamental for the success of energy cooperatives.
REScoop.eu provides the necessary tools to successfully complete such citizens’ energy projects. From community coaching to a toolbox providing guidance, REScoop.eu makes sure that everyone involved gets the support they need in each step of the way.
Status & Application: REScoop.eu is active EU-wide, with over 1.900 ongoing energy cooperatives.
URBAN MENUS Analysis
Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.
The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.
Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.
For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.
Happiness
Energy communities can contribute to happiness by giving their members the opportunity to be part of an active community and to be empowered to decide on this community’s future together.
Safety
Energy communities can increase people’s general feeling of safety in a city, for example, due to an increased sense of community and belonging. In some examples, energy communities have contributed to the setting up of sustainable street lighting.
Innovation
Energy communities aim to improve the sustainability of the energy system in an innovative way, by giving citizens ownership, strengthening local economies, and creating new job opportunities. In addition, they engage in innovative technologies such as blockchain, demand-response, virtual power plants, and more.
Profitability
Energy communities have the potential to provide high returns to their local community. They can contribute to the creation of new jobs as well as the development of new labour sectors in a community.
Circularity
As Energy communities focus on renewables, they support in reaching climate goals. They raise awareness among their members about the topic of energy – this not only includes renewable energy production but also the importance of reducing consumption. Overall, this can help to promote a circular economy.
Breeze small-scale air quality sensors can measure common pollutants such as carbon and nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter and many more. The Breeze Environmental Intelligence Cloud allows real-time analysis of urban air quality data.
The Breeze Environmental Intelligence Cloud is gathering real-time data from Breeze air quality sensors as well as external data sources. The cloud platform can assist facility management, environmental scientists, municipality management and governments in understanding air quality, its influences and how to improve it. Breeze supports in finding solutions for local air quality challenges – providing a database with over 3,500 clean air actions to improve air quality.
Status & Application: Ready for market; Breeze sensors are already in use in several countries.
URBAN MENUS Analysis
Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability and Circularity.
The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.
Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.
For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.
Happiness
Breeze provides information about air quality, as well as suggests possible adjustments to improve air quality in particularly burdened neighbourhoods. Improved air quality can lead to a healthier and more liveable environment, likely incentivising people to spend more time outside together as a community.
Safety
The monitoring can contribute to the general feeling of safety for the citizens, as air pollution (which is a major public health concern) can be detected at an early stage. Other factors of safety in a city, such as feelings of safety at night, orientation etc. are not addressed however, as this is not the focus of the product.
Innovation
In addition to the sensors, users also receive the possibility to analyze the data and work with it. A catalogue is provided, with more than 3,500 individual clean air actions to improve local air quality in the most efficient and effective way, therefore contributing to education about these issues.
Profitability
The possible health benefits of improved air quality can contribute to savings within the healthcare system of a city or country as a whole.
Circularity
The sensors have been designed modularly, with repair and recycling in mind; old sensors are refurbished to be used in future projects. On a societal level, Breeze can support in meeting climate targets and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
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