Lindell family - test pilots on a journey towards a carbon dioxide-lean "One Tonne Life"
Lindell family - test pilots on a journey towards a carbon dioxide-lean "One Tonne Life"
Introducing the Lindell family from Hässelby - test pilots on our journey towards a climatesmart future.
In the unique "One Tonne Life" project, dad Nils, mum Alicja and teenagers Hannah, 16, and Jonathan, 13, will try to live within the limits of one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions per person per year.
The project has been initiated by A-hus, Vattenfall and Volvo Cars. ICA and Siemens are the project's specialist industry partners.
Hannah was the first to spot the advert. "It sounded really exciting. Who wouldn't want to live in a climate-smart house with solar cells, green electricity and an electric car in the driveway?" she asks animatedly.
The rest of the family immediately caught her enthusiasm. "We've always liked adventures and challenges, and working out a climate-smart lifestyle is just about the most exciting thing imaginable. We're getting the chance to gain unique expertise for ourselves at the same time as we inspire others," says family father Nils.
The Lindell family were chosen in tough competition with more than 50 other families, and they have now moved into the newly built "One Tonne Life" house on Älghagsstigen in Hässelby, just outside Stockholm.
The change goes much further than just a six-month move, leaving behind their 1970s house and their two ageing cars for the brand-new, climate-smart villa from A-hus and a battery-powered Volvo C30 Electric.
Appetite for carbon dioxide-lean lifestyle
It's also about the search for a carbon dioxide-lean lifestyle that does not require the Lindells to make any major departure from their established everyday lives. "So far we've been well-intentioned ‘wanabees'. We're aware of the climate problem and we want to make a positive contribution. But without any systematic choices available, all we've done is made wellmeaning efforts here and there. In such an atmosphere it's difficult to feel as though you're doing anything really significant," says Nils.
Alicja Lindell adds: "But we have plenty of ideas. Now we also have better opportunity in the form of a house, car and bags of expertise. Not only that, the whole family has worked up a healthy appetite for living climate-smart. We're prepared to change our habits in order to succeed. If we do well, perhaps we'll inspire others to also change their habits."
In order to keep an analytical watch on the family's carbon dioxide emissions, experts from the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and the City of Stockholm's Environment and Health Administration are participating in the project.
Climate-smart society in miniature
Cutting carbon dioxide emissions to one tonne per person and year is a major challenge bearing in mind that the average Swede currently produces between six and eight tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The basic idea behind "One Tonne Life" is that cooperation between experts in carbon dioxide-lean products is essential in order to arrive at a systematic, climate-smart lifestyle.
The project has three main components:
- A climate-smart house built by wooden house experts A-hus to plans drawn up by renowned architect Gert Wingårdh.
- A battery-powered Volvo C30 Electric that is recharged using renewable energy.
- Vattenfall has equipped the house with smart new technology to measure the family's electricity consumption in real time and has provided expertise on how the family can use energy in the most efficient way.
Vattenfall has also provided solar cell technology developed by a subsidiary company and is supplying renewable electricity from windpower and hydropower via the mains electricity grid.
ICA and Siemens industry partners
ICA and Siemens are participating in "One Tonne Life" as industry partners.
- ICA is handling the family's food requirements and will also help the family members make conscious choices that reduce their meals' climate footprint.
- Siemens has equipped the household with appliances of absolute world class in terms of low energy and water consumption.
Both companies are contributing their expertise on how the various family members can reduce climate impact in connection with food shopping, cooking, washing-up and laundry.
For more information, please contact:
Petra Cederhed, A-hus, phone: +46 (0) 340-66 65 10, e-mail: petra.cederhed@derome.se
Mikael Björnér, Vattenfall, phone: +46 (0) 730-54 82 29, e-mail: mikael.bjorner@vattenfall.com
Malin Persson, Volvo Car Corporation, phone: +46 (0) 31-325 41 52, e-mail: mperss58@volvocars.com
Anna Hedström, ICA, phone: +46 (0) 702-53 66 60, e-mail: anna.r.hedstrom@ica.se
Tilda Björkman, Siemens, phone: +46 (0) 708-29 03 41, e-mail: tilda.bjoerkman@bshg.com
Or visit http://www.onetonnelife.com/