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About Me

Welcome!

My name is Urs Riggenbach and this site shares about my life and work. Most of what I do is devoted to practical solutions to avoid a global climate crisis. Acting from a point of compassion for all living things (or at least trying to!), I'm always ready to be challenged on how to maximize impact. Passionate about developing "whatever is missing" I'm building towards a sustainable future for all.

My Time

1. Open Access to Renewable Energies

Since 2012 I've been working with Lytefire toward initiating a global wave of solar enterpreneurship.

2. Practical Tools for Change

Building web-platforms and systems with purpose that connect actors, empower people and facilitate change.

Urs Riggenbach

As Developer I build scalable, secure and stable solutions in on the Web,
as Apps and in the Cloud.

I'm a true full-stack developer in web technologies, building solutions from the ground up and able to deliver solutions at each layer of the stack. Starting with the server setup, I implement the data structure and backend, the design and frontend, and because I have the expertise on the full stack, I am sure to deliver on the client's needs, and that I will always be able to adapt the project to evolving needs in the future.

For larger projects, I create a project-specific team relying on my network of curated developers, designers and content creators.

Featured Showcase: BIZ-Links for Swiss Cantons

For the Swiss Cantons of Bern, Zug, Fribourg and Basel-Country I built the interactive Biz-Links Product that helps Swiss people make career choices.

Users pick a job-related postcard, scan it, and can access videos and job-related resources.

Since 2019 the sytstem is operational and continously expanded based on different client needs. The stable SPIP core and modular architecture makes this possible.

Abvailable on web, the product also streams to Android and iOS with a custom Android App and iOS Web App to over 15 locations and to over 200 devices at the job information offices in Switzerland.

  • Scan QR-Codes and load job-specific information
  • Play and interact with multimedia content
  • Print, share and like any document and website

As a result of the modularity, each client has their own, bespoke look & feel as well as custom feature set.

Portfolio

Selection of projects in the fields of web-development, internet security, Android-app development, webstores, crowdfunding and campaign sites, online community platforms and financial modeling. Most projects are based on a security and scalability optimized tech-stack based on open-source SPIP, LXC and GNU/Linux.

Project idea and need a tech-team? Let's talk!

Clients & Users

Projects

Urs Riggenbach

I like creating content and sharing ideas. My blog contains notes across topics that may be helpful to others.

Amazing User’s Page showing Lytefire’s Diverse Users

Posted Friday 17 November 2023 by Urs Riggenbach.

Since its launch 2 weeks ago, it has been so uplifting to present our massive User’s Page at talks, meeting and to anyone I’ve met! It’s because this page shows the amazing diversity among Lytefire’s users. #Bakers from Kenya, #roasters from France, #DIYers building their own #solar unit, #NGOs running job-creation programs with us. Enable the energy transition at all these levels has been the dream from the start. Now it is reality!

Check it out: https://lytefire.com/users


Automating Tasks with Nautilus Scripts

Posted Sunday 29 May 2022 by Urs Riggenbach.

Nautilus scripts are a versatile way to automate daily tasks such as reducing PDF sizes, converting pictures to PDFs, adding notes to documents, etc.

The below files help creating PDFs, with varying degrees of compression.
"Normal" is a compression to 300dpi, which will still allow the PDF to be printed and is the best choice in most cases. When a higher compression level is needed, the "Smaller" and "Smallest" scripts can be useful.

First run:
mkdir .local/share/nautilus/scripts/

Then create the 3 files:

nano .local/share/nautilus/scripts/PDF\ Resize\ Normal

#!/bin/bash
echo -e "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" | xargs -i gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -dPDFSETTINGS=/printer -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH -sOutputFile="{}"_min.pdf "{}"

nano .local/share/nautilus/scripts/PDF\ Resize\ Smaller

#!/bin/bash
echo -e "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" | xargs -i gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -dPDFSETTINGS=/ebook -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH -sOutputFile="{}"_min.pdf "{}"
nano .local/share/nautilus/scripts/PDF\ Resize\ Smallest
#!/bin/bash
echo -e "$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS" | xargs -i gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -dPDFSETTINGS=/screen -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH -sOutputFile="{}"_min.pdf "{}"

Lastly, make the files executable.

chmod +x .local/share/nautilus/scripts/*

Now, the three scripts shouldbe available to you from the context menu on any file in your nautuilus file browser in GNOME.


On Giving Space

Posted Sunday 13 March 2022 by Urs Riggenbach.

This is post is part of a series of posts of creative writing.

Making space, for positive actions, for positive feelings. Making space for being vulnerable. For being a victimized, hurt, oppressed, or just making space to acknowledge: I’m misunderstood. Life is hard, and life is beautiful at the same time. By making space, we can stop the chase. Stop the heavy expectations on yourself. To be present, to acknowledge and respect however we feel. Despair, happiness, tiredness, being in love. Acknowledging and accepting just how conflicting all of this is, can sometimes help feeling grounded and is building space.

Ask yourself: Are your actions giving space, or taking away space? War, oppression, judgment: Taking space away. Listening, being vulnerable, trusting: Giving space. With more space, comes more freedom. Come fresh thoughts, ideas, plans and actions. If these actions give even more space, it starts to get real good. If we can admit and respect the complexity of life, and yet make some space to breathe and be - we are space loving and space giving humans.

It is hard to do. So out goes my deep respect for people who have made space. Space to trust themselves. Space to listen and be heard. Space to take risks. Space for others. Space for themselves.


Urs Riggenbach

As Entrepreneur I support and enjoy building and growing businesses
from the ground up.

I get involved in things that make sense to me, have impact or bring learning and creation with it.

Lytefire
CEO, Board Director & Co-Founder

June 2012 - now
Solar thermal technology solutions in the humanitarian and industrial sector.
 Technological development, project management, IT consulting, web and communication.

Autodesk Inc, San Francisco
Pier 9 Impact Residency

February 2017 - May 2017
 Industrial CNC machine training (Waterjet, Lasercuting, 5 axis CNC)
 Rapid prototyping using state of the art CNC machinery

vonsalis communications
Lead Developer

2014 - 2022
Development of custom web-platforms for the Zurich-based environmental communications agency.

UrsRig Consulting
Founder and CEO

2014 - now
Creation of web-development agency of impact and sustainability projects and beyond.

WWF Switzerland
Swiss Civil Service

February 2013 - July 2013
 Development of exhibition on renewable energies.

Oekozentrum Langenbruck, Switzerland
Swiss Civil Service

August 2013 - February 2014
 Support in research and development.

Sustainable Design/Build, Yestermorrow, USA
Semester course in sustainable design and building practices

 Instructors from the fields of architecture, construction and joinery/Carpentry
 Application of principles of sustainability and sustainable design in the architecture of a "tiny house" of 227 square feet.
 Project planning and management with different build milestones.
 Construction of entire tiny house, see it in New York Post "Tiny House 227".
 Study and implementation of HVAC systems.

College of the Atlantic, USA
Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology

September 2008 - June 2012
 Relevant Coursework: Agroecology, Economic Development, International Water Resource Management, Physics II, Collaborative Leadership, Fieldwork: Seminar in Community-based Research, Documentary Film Making, Webdesign, Fixing Food Systems, Sustainability, Local Production - Global Collaboration.
 Senior project in Nepal installing renewable energy framework at rural school
 Spanish proficiency during project-stay in Yucatán, Mexico
 Davis UWC Scholar: full scholarship awarded

United World College, India
International Baccalaureate, IB

September 2006 - May 2008
 International Baccelaurate (IB) with major biology and economics.
 Course language English.
 Extended essay: Sugarcane Cultivation in the Mulshi Valley, India.
 Full Scholarship from the Swiss Association for UWC

Born

1990

Urs Riggenbach

Selection of speaking engagements on camera or in front of impact-motivated crowds.

Idea, comment, interested to collaborate?

Contact Urs Riggenbach:
info@ursrig.com, 079 918 0663


Idee, Kommentar, interesse an Zusammenarbeit?

Bitte kontaktieren Sie mich:
Urs Riggenbach, info@ursrig.com, 079 918 0663

Presenting Lytefire - Swiss Alps

Presenting GoSol.solar - Finland

Presenting GoSol.solar - 2000 W Verein Solothurn

Freestyle Improv Acapella - Impact Hub Zurich