The European Union has provided the initial investment to station solar plants along the desert shores of the Mediterranean in northern Africa and the Middle East. They hope to significantly reduce their carbon emissions and increase the supply of drinking water in the desert region through a desalination process linked to solar energy production.

Although this process is currently twice as expensive as coal-generated power, plans are underway to reduce costs. Technological innovation and international energy standards could advance similar projects throughout the world. A recent article in Scientific American (January 2008) titled ‘A Solar Grand Plan’ describes a large-scale solar initiative taking shape in the United States.

This picture of a parabolic trough CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) plant in the Nevada desert, along with more pictures and information on the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC), can be found at the TREC-UK website.

Quoted from ‘How Africa’s desert sun can bring Europe power’ in the Guardian (December 2, 2007): Billions of watts of power could be generated this way, enough to provide Europe with a sixth of its electricity needs and to allow it to make significant cuts in its carbon emissions. At the same time, the stations would be used as desalination plants to provide desert countries with desperately needed supplies of fresh water.

Quoted: The World Clean Energy Awards, announced in Basel, Switzerland, on June 15, recognize innovative, practical projects that move renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions into the mainstream. Developed by the independent transatlantic21 Association, the awards are intended to create benchmarks for clean energy in seven categories: construction; transport and mobility; products; services, trade, and marketing; finance and investment; policy and lawmaking; and NGOs and initiatives.

LivingHomes develops LEED® platinum residences that can be built rapidly based on a modular system that reduces waste and accommodates customization. This a fascinating video of a model home being installed in 8 hours.

This article from the Seattle Times describes the inspiring ecological rebirth of the area surrounding the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle.

This World Resources Institute review of a report from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) shows how the intelligent preservation and management of ecosystems can ease the effects of natural disasters. The picture on the left depicts a fishing boat damaged by the 2004 tsunami in Koh Phra Thong, Thailand (IUCN Photo Library © IUCN/Jeff McNeely). The picture on the right is of mangrove trees in Bangladesh (IUCN Photo Library, © IUCN/Nicolas Van Ingen and Jean-François Hellio).

Amory Lovins, Chief Scientist at Rocky Mountain Institute, gave an excellent a five-part lecture series on “Advanced Energy Efficiency: Concepts and Practice” at Stanford University in March 2007. The series was organized around the following topics: Buildings, Industry, Transportation, Implementation, and Implications. Embedded above is the first video in the series. The videos from each lecture are available on Google Video and Stanford iTunes.