Few today realize that electric cabs dominated Manhattan's streets in the 1890s; that Boise, Idaho, had a geothermal heating system in 1910; or that the first megawatt turbine in the world was built in 1941 by the son of publishing magnate G. P. Putnam--a feat that would not be duplicated for another forty years. Likewise, while many remember the oil embargo of the 1970s, few are aware that it led to a corresponding explosion in green-technology research that was only derailed when energy prices later dropped.

In other words: We've been here before. Although we may have failed, America has had the chance to put our world on a more sustainable path. Americans have, in fact, been inventing green for more than a century.

Half compendium of lost opportunities, half hopeful look toward the future, Powering the Dream tells the stories of the brilliant, often irascible inventors who foresaw our current problems, tried to invent cheap and energy renewable solutions, and drew the blueprint for a green future.

China heeft de eerste helft van dit jaar nieuwe windturbines met een totaal vermogen van 11.810 Megawatt in gebruik genomen. Daarmee verdubbelt de geïnstalleerde capaciteit van eind 2008 bijna. In absolute cijfers lijkt geen enkel ander land dit jaar een grotere sprong voorwaarts te gaan maken in de sector van de windenergie.

The world faces two urgent demands. First, the global economy is in crisis and needs to be turned around. Second, scientists tell us that time is running out on tackling climate change and we are putting our planet at risk. The conventional wisdom is that those two demands are competing. The conventional wisdom is wrong. The pivotal factor will be achieving a dramatic increase in society’s “carbon productivity”—the amount of economic output created per ton of greenhouse gas emissions sent into the atmosphere. The concept of carbon productivity follows a familiar logic: just as the productivity of labor and capital can be measured—by weighing the amount of output created per hour worked or dollar invested—the productivity of carbon use can be readily measured as well.

Research by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) and McKinsey's global energy and materials practice finds that a concerted global effort to boost energy productivity—the output we achieve from the energy we consume—would have spectacular results. Using existing technologies, we could cut global energy-demand growth by more than half over the next 15 years.

One application to catch my eye is Ecorio, a carbon footprint calculator that taps into the G1’s GPS feature to track movement. Mode of travel choices include automobile, public transit and bicycle.

At last a book that comprehensively reveals the true facts about sustainable energy in a form that is both highly readable and entertaining.

Forty miles north of San Francisco, on the site of a former industrial park, work is underway on the ambitious new Sonoma Mountain Village, a 200-acre development that aims to be truly sustainable. The development is America’s first to be certified as a “One Planet Community,” part of an effort to build healthy and sustainable neighborhoods in the UK, US and Canada.

After a year of watching adults engage in devastating recklessness in the financial markets and depressing fecklessness in the global climate talks, it’s refreshing to know that the world keeps minting idealistic young people who are not waiting for governments to act, but are starting their own projects and driving innovation.

Essay: As the world faces economic turmoil, cleaner energy can create jobs and reignite global growth.

If you're one of those people hoping to change the world in 2009, writer Mark Bittman says you can start by changing what you eat. In his new book, Food Matters, The New York Times food columnist writes about the environmental impact of industrial farming — and how individuals can make a difference by cutting down on the amount of animal products they consume.

WattzOn gives you tools to track your energy consumption, compare it to others' and understand its consequences in order to discover how to reduce your role in climate change.

First, there was Carrotmob. This spring, in a not very publicized move, San Franciscan Brent Schulkin (after incubating the idea for some time) went to 22 food & liquor stores in his neighborhood, trying to see which ones would agree to make energy efficiency improvements if he could bring in a lot of customers at an agreed-upon time.

Americans haul 82 million tons of trash to recycling centers each year. But does it pay off—for the environment or the economy? PM has some real answers.

“De auto is de grootste oplossing van de klimaatverandering, niet het probleem” en “For most people denial is a river in Africa“. Twee curieuze uitspraken van een van de voormalig topmensen van softwarebedrijf SAP, Shai Agassi. Agassi houdt zich tegenwoordig bezig met de/een oplossing van het klimaatprobleem met zijn nieuwe bedrijf Better Place.

Video of Al Gore's speech on how the USA must change energy sources now: "Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years."

Breakthrough ideas are around the corner, says the Google co-founder. But most of us are failing to take a chance on them.

"Big Solar" may take on a whole new meaning if Desertec, the most ambitious solar thermal plan ever conceived, gets funded. Its architects claim they can build a supergrid of concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP) that can meet most of Europe's current

'De CO2-uitstoot van de internetsector is bijna net zo groot als dat van al het vliegverkeer in de wereld.' Dat meldde onderzoeksbureau Gartner een tijdje terug. Details waren niet bekend dus gingen we zelf op nader onderzoek uit. Uit de openhartige gegev

Latest news about new sustainable or eco-ideas

A documentary produced and narrated by Leonardo di Caprio, telling us how mankind's darkest hour (our overexploitation of the planet) can be turned into its finest.

SustainLane.com is the largest community-powered directory of green products and businesses. SustainLane.com allows people to easily find and share reviews on anything from organic milk and fair trade chocolate to eco-friendly clothing and hybrid cars. At

Open-source knowledge base speeds discovery, research and networking with more than 110 best practice documents and a secure directory of participating government officials from over 450 cities, counties and US states.

GreenPrint software eliminates unwanted pages saving paper, ink, money, and millions of trees

A call to action for all worldchanging people everywhere.