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New policies include: adjusting the federal production tax credit (PTC) to make it more effective in the midst of the current economic downturn and extending it for a longer term (it expires at the end of 2009); establishing a national renewable electricity standard (RES) with a target of generating at least 25% of the nation's electricity from renewables by 2025, and a near-term target of 10% by 2012 (a Washington Post poll in early December found that 84% of Americans support such a standard); legislation and initiatives to develop a high-voltage interstate transmission "highway" for renewable energy; and strong national climate change legislation.

The research team has 'designed and built an absorption chiller capable of using solar and residual heat as an energy source to drive the cooling system.'

21-year-old student Emily Cummins has created a portable solar-powered fridge specifically for use in developing countries.

Each topic in the 50to50 provides an overview of the strategy, typical applications, emerging trends, links to other information resources, and the relationship of the current strategy with other carbon-reducing strategies. The strategies are specifically intended to address the carbon neutrality goal, but also provide a great base for sustainable building design.

The European market for solar thermal systems is in the transition phase. Over the past 4 years the market has undergone considerable changes, as the interest it receives from policy makers, industry players and end users is ensuring strong growth trends in the coming years.

Thankfully, designers continue to explore solar powered public lighting. This version includes more intelligent functions.

Compared to electrified lighting, this is quite a negative impact for copper, but if we set the baseline as no lighting, it becomes quite positive. Referring to my recent post on the impact blog, the impact of this technology is probably positive in the short run, but long-term negative.

This report seems to be the most comprehensive worldwide review of renewable energy (all types) installed capacity and renewable energy trends. The report charts the rise of renewables by updating information in the series and with up to date commentary on individual regions.

Through the use of an environmentally-friendly energy saving bulb with no heat emission, Matt can be "your friend all the way through long, platonic reading nights."

Cf our own top 10, but specific stories rather than trends.