The-Environmentalist

Norbert Stegmann

On 7 May, Norbert was taken by ambulance to the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. From now on, his well-being has been subject to constant ups and downs - but we were both convinced that he would surely recover.

On the night of 22 May 2022, Norbert passed away unexpectedly, diagnosed with endocarditis.

Ever since I have known Norbert, he has pursued only one goal - to make the world a better place. That alone drove him to his core. Getting up at 2am, working until 10pm. That was his God-given mission in this world until his last days. Being able to see connections, to develop machines, to find solutions to problems in the environmental field, he saw his gift as a gift from God; it was solely meant to really help the environment and mankind, for the future generations.

But on Norbert's difficult way to bring these inventions successfully to the market, he had to accept setbacks again and again. Negative experiences with corrupt decision-makers, the greed for power of influential people, envy and resentment have accompanied him ever since. But time and again he rolled up his sleeves to start anew.

But anyone who knew Norbert also knows about his sense of perfection, his unfortunately much too quick temper, his impatience, his persistence. There were no grey areas in his world. With this attitude, however, he has not only made friends.

Another point has had a deep impact on Norbert: his unshakeable faith in God.

Because despite many set-backs, step by step we went ahead - and became successful: we built the most environmentally friendly building in the world. Finally, it was possible to prove here that Norbert’s technologies work: Vacuum technology, Pascal Stones, cooling ceilings, clean fresh indoor air with reduction of CO2 levels - here Norbert has once again broken new scientific and technical ground!

And these groundbreaking projects should now also be launched in other countries. This is why we moved to Scotland in 2020.

However, his serious and sudden illness was not planned for. Norbert was still full of energy and drive. He still had so many plans.

We may ask ourselves now: What remains of his many ideas and visions, of his unfinished technologies and projects? Now that he is no longer there, and he can no longer contribute to their success.

Two answers come to mind:

1. It has always been in God’s hands and will continue to be. He will see to it that it continues - according to His plans and in His time. This could be far in the future, but it can also happen today or tomorrow.

2. It is also up to us, his family, the retards, friends, business partners and fellow worshipers.

Let’s take Norbert as an example: when there were obstacles, he looked for ways to overcome them. In a crisis or adverse situation, he was on the lookout for new opportunities. Here he was completely the seeker, the researcher, also the eternally dissatisfied one who was always looking for further improvements. Norbert was one who never, never, never gave up.

Here is a citation from the first book of Enoch in chapter 1, which he studied with eagerness until his last days:

"The earth shall be immerged, and all things which are in it perish; while judgment shall come upon all, even upon all the righteous:

But to them shall he give peace: he shall preserve the elect, and towards them exercise clemency.

Then shall all belong to God; be happy and blessed; and the splendour of the Godhead shall illuminate them."

Norbert is now with Jesus in heaven. And this is a reason, despite all the sadness we feel, to also be joyful. He has completed his earthly course. But that is not the end. Who knows what great tasks await him in heaven?

But the situation caught us unprepared because we actually assumed that he would recover. I am very sure that it was his wish that I and our sons continue his visions and planned projects, which we will do as best we can, but we will need some time and help.

Kind regards

Melanie Stegmann

The History of Norbert Stegmann,

The-Environmentalist

Norbert Stegmann was born in October 1954 in Bottrop, Germany. He is married and father of five children. He is a professional industrial manager and developer. In 1975, he passed the examination of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hamburg.

Since 1984, Norbert has been working in the field of environmental technology, chemical products, instruments, machines and manufacturing plants. Before he became self-employed in 1993, he worked as the chief executive officer of a mineral oil group. Norbert was involved in research and development in the field of new environmental technology, where he established his contacts with business partners worldwide.

In 1994, Norbert started to deal intensively with the processes for the purification of contaminated soil and other substances, developing new purifying methods and procedures. His fundamental product is the ECOREFINE, a procedure for commercial cleaning of contaminated oil, household- and medical waste, sewage- grinding- and oil sludge. Further results include almost all inorganic waste being recycled and all organic waste capable of being converted to fertiliser by using a soil and plant activator. This invention has encouraged Norbert to plan international projects and extend his range of environmentally friendly products and inventions for a healthier and cleaner future.

Further developments are in the field of water treatment, sewage treatment, construction, renewable energy, and reduction of CO2 values. He is, among others, also the creator and inventor of the most environmentally sensitive city of the world, the 'Green Industry' and the University for Environment. An institute should also be established here to be able to look at commonalities and differences of the three main religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam - by people, regardless of their nationality, culture, religion or health - in harmony and mutual respect.

As early as 1997, Norbert was nominated by VDMA and BDI for the Innovation Award of the Federal President. However, since accepting prizes is in principle contrary to his mentality, he declined the nomination. 

Business Experience in the UAE

Norbert visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time in 1971.

Starting with the exhibition "Germany and the Gulf" in 1995, he has met many local businessmen, including a well-known Emirati from Dubai. His Sharjah-based company awarded Norbert an environmental prize in 2000.

This environmental prize was awarded for the introduction of an environmentally friendly cleaning system for jewellery and gold. Until then, ammonia cleaners have been used in this field, which are not only environmentally unfriendly, but their substances are also extremely harmful to the health of the workers. The ceremony was unexpected to Norbert; it was the first - and last - award that he has accepted and will ever accept. His inventions and environmental products are not for prizes; what counts for him are people and the environment.

Since 1996, Norbert has developed his business relationship with Sharjah. As the creator and inventor of the world's most environmentally friendly city, for which construction began in Abu Dhabi in February 2008 according to his initial concept, he moved to Sharjah with his family on 2 January 2006 at the invitation of the then Director of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (a position which at that time was equivalent to the rank of a Minister for Environment).

For 25 years, Norbert has successfully completed environmental projects in Sharjah and for 15 years he had his business operations there. In 2005, Norbert had his first official meeting with a group of German business partners in the palace of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the UAE Supreme Council.

Since 2014, Norbert has been working with His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi to finalise the Blue EcoPower System for Sharjah, a device which is able to produce energy without negative environmental effects at a production cost of less than £ 0.02 per kW/h.

Due to the pandemic and stricter measures in the UAE regarding entry and exit regulations, especially for the German engineers and consultants, The-Environmentalist decided in August 2020 to temporarily relocate his business operations. He received offers from several countries, but finally decided to relocate to Scotland. 

Guiding Principles of Norbert Stegmann

Since 1984, Norbert has made significant contributions in the field of applied environmental care. Among experts, his inventions of the ECOREFINE and the water treatment plant HWT are today considered a milestone within environmental technologies.

Within the last 35 years, Norbert has met numerous politicians, representatives of economy and research as well as genuinely interested people. He came to realise that the majority of mankind swims with the current. However, you have to swim against the tide to reach your goal.

“Act! Act! That is what we are here for!”

(J.G. Fichte)

With this motto in mind, Norbert has decided to take a new direction – not only to make use of the technologies and procedures that he developed, but beyond it to create a system that helps us in thinking and acting for our environment in the most positive way.

Within this, Norbert is presenting the cornerstones of a new path, showing the possibilities for changing the environment. It is now possible to implement these visions together, according to firm principles and regulations based on mutual trust and a common desire to undertake these significant steps.

The environmental technologies, the whole Blue Building® Concept are unique. Norbert's target was to do the impossible, to stop the progressing climate change and to stand up for an environment with a future.