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The 8th edition of the National Sustainability Congress took place on 20 November at the World Trade Centre in Rotterdam. The congress was an immense success, with all 450 tickets selling out well before the event.

An important part of the event was the Young Sustainability award. This award was co-organised by Enviu and offered a prize of €5,000 to the student or young professional with the best idea which could contribute to a sustainable Netherlands. 3 finalists were chosen from the 25 entries from all around the country. Attendees at the National Sustainability Congress voted by SMS and chose Carolien van Merksteijn’s idea for sustainable and economical “shop window lighting” as the top sustainable idea. Runner up was Janneke van Bakel with her idea for “New energy: healthy, inexpensive and green sports”, dealing with harnessing and using the energy created by people working out in fitness centers.

Carolien’s winning idea:

The Netherlands is currently one of the most “lit-up” countries in the world, and the use of lighting is till increasing (Tangram Advies & Onderzoek). Carolien’s idea is to bring the key partners together and in a short space of time to fit all shop windows in the Netherlands with energy-saving LED spotlights and a time-switch. She claims that her idea has many benefits for businesses, consumers and the environment, including:

-       An energy saving of 30 tot 50% per shop/window (TWA Netwerk), for the more than 160.000 businesses in the Netherlands (CBS 2006).

-       Reduced light pollution

-       Increased awareness amongst shop managers, employment agencies, banks and other businesses with shop windows that they can reduce their costs and their ecological footprint while positively influencing profits.

-       Through PR the key partners and marketing of the participating companies, the consumer will become aware of the change in mentality of the companies. Because the businesses are present in the daily street picture and are therefore well known to the consumer, he or she will think again about their choice of products and their own footprints.

Enviu would like to congratulate Carolien on both her idea and on winning the Young Sustainability Award, and thank all the other entrants for contributing  their sustainable ideas.

You can read more about Carolien’s idea, and see the other entries  here>>>

Do you have an idea for which could contribute to a more sustainable Netherlands?

You may have missed the Young Sustainability Award but Enviu is always interested in hearing from bright young people with sustainable ideas! If you have an idea you would like to share we welcome you to contact us at info@enviu.org. The possibilities are endless!