31.05.2007
Karlsruhe Student has the Environment Close to his Heart
“Consider the consequences of your actions” – this principle is one that Julian von Blücher's grandfather adhered to long before “climate change” had become a buzz word. His grandson has followed his advice: at Universität Karlsruhe (TH), he is now working hard to protect the environment and the climate. The son of an ambassador, Julian has travelled a lot in his life; he lived first in Poland, then in Colombia, later on in Dresden. When he measured his “carbon footprint” – a measure of the amount of a single person's CO2 emissions – he was shocked to discover the true impact of his air travel, even though his heating and household habits were quite average.
In 2005, the committed climate protector launched the “Mensokra” project, a solar power plant on the roof of the university cafeteria. He drummed up support for this alternative form of energy and even turned it into a source of income: the solar cells generate a revenue of 200 euros per month, which is then put to charitable use.
With his campaign for the solar roof, Julian has won the German and international nominations as a “Climate Change College” ambassador. The 25-year-old student from Baden-Württemberg will now be spending the summer touring Germany to promote solar roof technology. He should have no trouble finding supporters in the German Southwest as it is the home of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Europe's largest solar research institute. Furthermore the ZSW (Zentrum für Sonnenenergie und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg) one of the leading research institutes in its field was founded to conduct and promote research and development in the field of solar energy and hydrogen technology in co-operation with a vast number of further research institutes in related areas.
