UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed
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Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation
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Goal 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
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Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
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Goal 12: Responsible Production & Consumption
2016 Global Design Challenge Finalist
This design concept was developed by participants in the Institute’s Global Design Challenge. The descriptions below are from the team’s competition entry materials.
Location: Brescia, Italy
Team members: Alessandro Bianciardi, Alessandro Villa
Innovation Details
This team looked to mangroves and salt marshes for inspiration to address land degradation and water scarcity in coastal areas. Their design is a desalinating solar still that is optimized to produce fresh water for irrigation and costs five times less than traditional solar stills.
This team also participated in a European Union Horizons 2020 grant for €10 million that aims to demonstrate and test innovations that close water loops, feed the soil, and promote local economies. Read more about the initiative here.
