Swiss Stories

Eagle

Setting up wind turbines with the help of eagles

Environment
Thanks to biologists from the University of Bern, golden eagles are becoming invaluable co-workers in the development of wind farms in the Swiss Alps. The large birds are equipped with GPS tags to transmit data that can limit their risk of colliding with the future turbines.

by Lea Huszno

Lake Geneva

Water from Lake Geneva used to heat and cool buildings

Environment
Thermal networks can provide an environmentally sound method of heating and cooling buildings, as evidenced by the GeniLac project launched in 2009 in the canton of Geneva. The goal of the GeniLac project is to replace oil and gas-powered air conditioning and heating systems with alternative water powered systems. GeniLac is operated by power company Services industriels de Genève (SIG) and forms part of the canton of Geneva's climate strategy.

by Lea Huszno

Gottardo 2016 © Amberg Group

The Gotthard Tunnel: also a women's story

Environment
The world's longest rail tunnel, 57km long, opened on 1 June 2016. This feat of Swiss engineering, which crosses the Alps and links the cantons of Uri and Ticino, was built by AlpTransit Gotthard SA, a subsidiary of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). AlpTransit has a workforce of 170, including 53 women, which makes it something of an exception in the construction and infrastructure engineering sector.
The Ocean Mapping Expedition_ Swiss sailing boat Fleur de Passion

Tracing Magellan's route

Environment
In April 2015, the Fleur de Passion, a 33-metre ketch, embarked on a four-year circumnavigation of the globe, following the route taken by famous Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
Solarkiosk © Andreas Spiess, SOLARKIOSK AG / ZHdK

Can Swiss design save the planet?

Environment
Social design looks beyond the material nature of an object in order to tackle the major economic, environmental and societal challenges of today and tomorrow. The practice is taking off in Switzerland and changing the face of design.
Happy Genie

Swiss a-Peel

Environment
Two start-ups born in Switzerland are bringing the concepts of 'cradle-to-cradle' and 'circular economy' closer to home by giving organic waste a new, fashionable lease on life.

by Miguel Quintana

Horse-drawn carriage

Across the Gotthard on foot and by train

Environment
Today's travellers have different ways of getting from one side of the Gotthard Massif to the other: they can either follow the old Gotthard Pass road, as our forebears did, or they can travel through the world's longest tunnel, the new Gotthard Tunnel.