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-- an SWM THiNKTANK debate According to a previous survey [ 1 ] sustainability is synonymous with 'durability'. One may also interpret this result with 'stability', 'safety', 'predictability', etc. However, when it comes to 'personal mobility' (e.g. with regard to the daily work environment) or to 'personal time flexibility' (in the same context), the first results look different [ 2 ], [ 3 ]. It is obvious that, today, people increasingly appreciate flexible and open work spaces instead of (apparently old-fashioned) single-space offices. Single room offices with a limited number of work places are clearly disliked. So, apparently, and from the office design open-space offices can be considered a key sustainable alternative (as people prefer this kind of work environment, i.e. productivity can be assumed to be higher). The question of individual time-planning seems to be more tricky: there are the 'individualists' (currently pre...

-- an SWM THiNKTANK debate In continuation of the past debates about the topic of sustainability [ 1 ]-[ 4 ] a new debate concentrating on the current situation of sustainable development has been started - Sustainability. We are on the right way!? [ 5 ]. Main incentive for the continuation of the controversy is a perceptible hebetude in sustainable development [ 6 ]. Today sustainable development can be considered as ' institutionalized ', ' standardized ', 'quantified', ' technified ', etc. Sustainability is still considered and treated as ' extra ', i.e. as ' add-on '. Accordingly, sustainability as such is considered as a cost factor - which is basically not the case. Some quick surveys [ 7 ]- [ 9 ] demonstrated how integral sustainability is included in a person's every day live. It is more than obvious that, if the turn towards a truly sustainable society shall be successful, there is a need to change the approaches to impart...

- an SWM THiNKTANK article This year (2012) its 20 years since the Rio Earth Summit. Accordingly, its time to critically reflect on what has been achieved, what is pending, what are the success stories. Overall it can certainly be acknowledged that the awareness of the post-modern society regarding e.g. limited natural (but also social) resources, climate change, the inter-dependencies between economy, environment and human society has increased significantly. In terms of scientific progress a number of fundamental developments have been realised (e.g. the development of appropriate life cycle assessment approaches/impact assessment methods, etc.). Various economic developments, for example streamlined supply-chains (or supply webs), diversification and outsourcing, life cycle thinking, etc. have been implemented and/or refined. Technical improvements, e.g. profitable recovery of precious and/or rare materials, intelligent power supply systems, smart household appliances have assisted...

-- an SWM THiNKTANK article In the wake of sustainability efforts of a number of other stakeholders, also the building and construction industry considers and (eventually) adopts sustainability measures. 'Green Building' is just one buzzword. But is "green" equal to "green"? A number of investigations suggest that the current state may merely be considered as a first step [ 1 ]. Building materials is one aspect. Energy- and water aspects are the "new" issues that require consideration [ 2 ]. Looking at the "blue issue" a number of water aspects are considered important to be addressed e.g. rain water harvesting [ 3 ] (follow -- an SWM THiNKTANK live debate about rain water harvesting ), fresh water supply [ 4 ], and water efficiency in general [ 5 ]. Pioneers in architecture even go one step further and consider the development of indeed intelligent buildings, almost smart buildings [ 6 ], [ 7 ]. Further readings: [ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], ...

-- an SWM THiNKTANK article By today the project SWM THiNKTANK is two years old and it’s a pleasure to start the third year of SWM THiNKTANK with the announcement of the opening of the first two regional representations: SWM Africa   http://swm-africa.blogspot.com/ | LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=4252120 SWM Europe   http://swm-europe.blogspot.com/ | LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=4252098 Two busy years ago everything started with a simple, tiny kitchen-table idea and a quick check if a “SWM-Group” was already established on LinkedIN or not. Today SWM THiNKTANK attracts the interest of almost 2’000 stakeholders world-wide and experiences an averaged annual growth-rate of unbelievable more than 175%. In order to provide for a further successful and robust development of SWM THiNKTANK the implementation of a definite management structure (learn more on: http://swm-group.blogspot.com/p/about.html ) has been launched....