Welcome to Cisco Innovation Labs!
My name is Xavier Azemar - you probably remember me from a blog I wrote back in June 2021 about our sustainable building - and I also run the Cisco Innovation Center in Barcelona within our global network of innovation laboratories, called Cisco Innovation Labs.
From a textile factory to an incubator of technological knowledge
Located in the Poble Nou neighborhood, the building dates back to 1865 and was formerly a textile factory. From its construction until today, it has survived five fires and was also an occupied building.
Today - having preserved and repaired its walls, floors, and ceilings - it is the space that we have dedicated to technology, research, and development. Our Center continues its mission of identifying the key disruptive trends in the world of ICTs and making them a reality in everyday life. In it we collaborate with clients from all over the world, partners, start-ups, educational centers, and the public sector to devise and implement innovative solutions that give rise not only to new business models but also to opportunities in inclusion and sustainability projects in which technology can make a difference.
How does the sustainable building of the Cisco Co-Innovation Center in Barcelona work?
In terms of energy, the center runs on totally renewable energy on site. Its solar panels, wind turbines, and geo-thermal devices guarantee 68.37kW saving up to 31.19% energy. In this sense, the building complies with what we call NZEB (from English: Nearly Zero Energy Building) which means that all the renewable energy that is produced in the building is spent within the same building. The electrical panels are intelligent: they always optimize the use of energy and the elevators are programmed with direct drive and LED lighting. We also have a charging point for electric cars with a capacity of 22kW, a specific space for storing bicycles, and changing rooms.
Regarding the provision of water and air conditioning, the building of the Co-Innovation Center in Barcelona has control of the flow of water through thermostatic taps and toilets with a double flush system. The Green Wall and garden are fed by filtered rainwater and the entire building is fitted with HydroGrid systems for intelligent water distribution and management. The air conditioning works through an urban heating and cooling network that supplies thermal energy from municipal solid waste and other ecological sources, thanks to which it is classified in category A in the energy expenditure ratio. Likewise, the ventilation flow is specially modulated according to the occupation and/or the quality of the air that is inside at that moment.
At the Center, we also implemented specific sustainability actions such as access to wireless technology in all spaces, a significant reduction in the use of multi-function devices to reduce energy and paper use, the installation of triple waste containers in all plants to paper, packaging and organic, respectively, and an installation design that guarantees acoustic comfort, ensuring 35 dBA.
With all this development, at Cisco Spain we join the challenge of contributing to address the climate crisis in a context in which the entire world has already become aware of the urgent need to act to take care of our planet. And in your company? What actions are being carried out? Tell me your experience.
