INVESTING IN SUSTAINABILITY
Introducing the MIRIS Green Bond. The climate received a much-needed boost today, when MIRIS, an eco-minded FinTech company working in the real estate sector, unveiled a sustainable investment bond called ‘Green Bond.’ The aim is to provide funding for energy-saving, carbon-neutral properties.
MIRIS say the move “provides an opportunity for investors to build wealth responsibly, investing in the future of travel, property and technology while safeguarding the planet for generations to come”. Individuals will be able to invest with as little as 100 euros and can expect a yearly interest of 7%, while all Green Bond-funded projects will be listed on the MIRIS X investment platform, which allows users to buy, track, manage and sell the Green Bond. Usefully, the platform also lets investors see exactly where their money is going and the actual impact it’s having on the planet.
One such Green Bond-backed development project is the world’s first energy-positive Svart hotel, a low-impact, groundbreaking collaboration between MIRIS, Snøhetta and Powerhouse, which will open in Norway’s Arctic Circle in early 2022. Located above the Holandsfjorden fjord, at the base of a glacier, and with a glass fronted circular design offering a 360-degree view of the Svartisen glacier and the Northern Lights, it claims to be the first hotel to produce more energy than it uses, consuming approximately 85% less energy than traditional hotels. Its 99 hotel rooms, four restaurants and terraces have been placed within a circular design to harness the sun’s energy – no matter the time of day or season; while a solar-panelled roof will further reduce carbon footprint. With its avoidance of energy-intensive building materials such as structural steel and concrete, the Svart hopes to be fully off-grid, carbon neutral and zero waste within its first five years of operation.
A mecca for the increasing trend for “conscious escapism” and sustainable travel, Svart’s guests will be able to experience everything from glacier climbing to yoga, while the spa’s 1,000 square metre wellness hub will offer a variety of cutting-edge holistic treatments. Its bespoke ‘Climatise, Condition and Evolve’ programme promises therapies ranging from massages and facials to sound-healing and wearable technology, by which guests can access their personal data. “Our aim was to create a truly immersive and purpose driven experience for guests, enabling them to become more in tune with themselves as they take in the natural wonders of Norway’s incredible Svartisen,” says Svart’s & Wellness Consultant and Co-Founder of iMPACT-Business Health, Felicity Leahy.
The Svart will also have its own education centre and design laboratory that guests can visit, to discover the science and technology behind the hotel, and learn more about subjects like waste management, glacier protection and sustainable farming. Meanwhile, another Green Bond-funded project, the Bryne Technology Center, is the first in Norway to be heated with energy from a local data center. MIRIS, which is backed financially by US Capital Global, says it uses cutting edge tech to “address the changing relationship between communities and a greener world by integrating our living environment with the growing energy and data needs of today’s societies”.