All that glitters

2024? |? Life, lemons but with oh so much glitter thrown in…

Last year was a wash out, and so to keep a curious and purposeful mind busy, I will be resuming my newsletter/blog with a blend of my own personal views and what I see happening in the world around us that I really think is noteworthy.? And as this is an evolution of the newsletter All roads lead to flex, I started last year, topics will loosely be based on real estate (and I am open to suggestions): Great Concepts, Sustainability, Data Centres; AI, Flex, Proptech, Podcasts/books and a tune for the week!

Great concepts(ish): a look forward on what might happen in 2024 - the Savills world view?

Why read: 2023 was a year of record breaking everything, inflation, instability, crazy weather and boy does the ground beneath my feet feel shaky but I'm ever the optimist. Looking ahead and hot off the press the Savills Spotlight: European Property Themes 2024 was a great read really responding to these themes and looking at the opportunities arising from the ashes of 2023…?

Sustainability: The balcony power plant!?

Why read: ?It's all the rage in Germany, you can buy solar panels from the supermarket and install these yourself.? While a single installation essentially costs peanuts and saves peanuts, “balkonkraftwerks” en masse significantly contribute to Germany's gas-dependent energy sector transformation. In the single year of 2021, between 140,000 and 190,000 such solar devices were sold in Germany, with a total output of around 60 MW.? (By contrast in the US, typical household power consumption is three times higher than in Germany, and electricity is three times cheaper, significantly reducing the return on such an investment in the US…)

Data Centres: Ranked: Top 50 Data Center Markets by Power Consumption

Why read: North Virginia?!? Who knew?! Today, it is estimated that there are over 8,000 data centers in the world.? Many of these centers end up clustered together due to beneficial infrastructure and provisions from local governments and utilities. And the reason for North Virginia is that there are some 300 data centres there…

AI: An AI just negotiated a contract for the first time ever — and no human was involved

Why read: HOW TOTALLY COOL: In a world first, artificial intelligence demonstrated the ability to negotiate a contract autonomously with another artificial intelligence without any human involvement. At Luminance’s London headquarters, the company demonstrated its AI, called Autopilot, negotiating a non-disclosure agreement in a matter of minutes. It marks the first time an AI has ever negotiated a contract with another AI, with no human involved.? The only layer that still requires a human is the signing of the agreement.

Flex: The Official List of Every Company’s Back-to-Office Strategy

Why read: So it’s a couple of months out of date but it gives a good overview of what hybrid means to a number of big corporate clients…??

Podcasts/books: The Witch Trials of JK Rowling

Why listen or read: I have been blown away listening to this, beautifully done, credible, articulate and worthy of 7 hours of your time to listen too.?

Fact of the week: There is actually a word for someone giving an opinion on something they know nothing about. An 'ultracrepidarian' is someone who voices thoughts beyond their expertise, (my 11 son for sure).

Tune for the week:? Teddy Swims - Lose Control?