Sunday, July 31, 2011

Experts call Israel a ‘laboratory’ for eco-innovation

Strategists from around the world agreed that “Israel is a laboratory” for eco-innovation and can serve as a platform for larger countries looking to harness sustainable technology during a special conference held by the United Nations Economics Commission in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Experts from around the globe came together to strategize about how to generate policies and achieve cooperation to further the spread and efficiency of green technology tools.

Israelis excel at inventing innovative solutions that can be put together quickly and applied by others. In this way, Israel can serve as an eco-model for other nations.

As solar water heaters are just now starting to pique interest here in the US, they were the norm in Israeli households by the 1980s. Israelis are also experts at water desalination, enabling a desert nation to have sufficient water by virtue of bordering a major body of water, albeit salt water.

It all comes down to doing more with less...read more about it here

I'm off to enjoy a sunny day, till next time!
-J

Israel Cabinet Approves Plan to Promote Electricity Production from Renewable Energy

Israel's Cabinet is seeking to further promote the production of electricity from renewable resources! The goal is to use renewable sources of energy to generate 10% of Israel's electricity needs by 2020.

The decision sets a quantitative goal for electricity generation from renewable sources of 2,760 megawatts by the end of 2020, constituting 10% of electricity production in Israel. An interim goal of 1,550 megawatts by the end of 2014 was also set.

In the first stage, between 2011 - 2014, the quotas that have already been allocated for the production of electricity from renewable, non-polluting sources, as well as additional quotas, will be realized: 460 megawatts for large installations, 110 megawatts for installations designated for independent consumption (rooftop photovoltaic facilities), approximately 210 megawatts for electricity generation from biogas, biomass and waste, and 800 megawatts of electricity from wind power..

The decision includes an allocation of at least 210 megawatts for the production of electricity from biogas and biomass, which will further promote the recycling and separation of waste at source revolution and provide a significant economic incentive to local authorities and the private sector for utilizing household waste for the production of clean energy.

Source: Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection

Off to turn off the lights and light a candle, till next time!
-J