The EmCoin project, developed by the Resconda Association (Conscious REStitution of the Environmental Debt) and the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering (DISEG) at the Polytechnic University of Turin, aims to disseminate knowledge for conscious action, starting with energy aspects. Currently, an app is being developed to serve as a tool for individuals and families, that will enable them to evaluate how and to what extent their purchasing decisions can contribute to energy savings and reduce their environmental impact, using specific data and setting precise and measurable goals. At present, the app allows users to understand the amount of energy required to produce a limited range of product types, from sourcing raw materials to production, packaging, and distribution.
According to the project’s creators, who were joined by the SEQUS (Sustainability EQUity Solidarity) Association, current levels of well-being in developed societies can be sustained by consuming less energy and prioritising renewable sources. Everyone can contribute through their daily choices, provided they are aware of how their purchasing decisions impact CO₂ emissions given the same level of well-being.
Supported by the 8x1000 contributions to the Waldensian Church, EmCoin’s work is significant not only because it transparently identifies products with the lowest energy consumption but also because it has the potential to create a ripple effect. It could incentivise commodity manufacturers to compete on the energy efficiency of their processes, reducing the energy embedded in their products while encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources.
“Imagine if we used kilowatt-hours instead of euros to purchase goods, paying the energy cost required to produce them and spending only the energy we actually have available,” recalls Marcello Corongiu, President of the Resconda Association, thinking about a conversation he had with an entrepreneur 15 years ago. “The idea stayed with me for a long time,” Corongiu continues. “It seemed an ingenious solution to bring energy to the forefront of the economy, despite being a topic largely overlooked by mainstream economic theories, and that I carry on in Resconda, an association I co-founded in 2022.”
The app's target audience is young people between the ages of 17 and 40, and among the older age group, there are especially women, who show greater sensitivity to the issue of environmental protection. "This tool," Corongiu explains, "empowers individuals to manage an issue that typically overwhelms and induces a sense of helplessness. Ultimately, it could also help to alleviate the eco-anxiety that affects especially younger generations."
Name:
EmCoin
Website:
Sector:
New Applications
Plus:
An unbiased and clear indicator of the environmental impact of products that helps individuals with purchasing choices
Features:
An app that determines the amount of energy required to produce a good or service
This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano
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