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We need to switch to 100% renewable resources by 2020. Together we can make this happen.
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Documentary videos include Wilson Natural Home (25 minutes), The Solar Village (45 minutes), and Hope for a Change: Renewable Energy (60 minutes, featuring Dr. David Suzuki, Dr. Hermann Scheer, and Chris Turner).
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Take a trip to the solar capital of Europe. Come visit Freiburg Germany where the green movement came of age. Learn how the development of feed-in tariff (FIT) laws created by those who came out of the environmental movement transforms the sensible choice of renewable energy into a good investment. The trailer video below provides a brief introduction to the documentary. For all the details go through each video chapter in the documentary by clicking on chapters 1-4 in the left side bar.
First we are introduced to the background of how Freiburg became the solar capital of Europe as a city planner takes us through the recent history that lead to this development. We are shown how wine growers and farmers, along with students protested against nuclear power (in the wake of Chernobyl) and won. Then the transformation started. People figured out ways to make renewable energy work by trying different things, experimenting and learning. Now Freiburg is a leader in the development of renewable energy through the solar institute that resides in the city. We also learn how the green movement developed in this area and eventually led to the green energy laws and feed-in tariff that have transformed Germany into a renewable energy leader.
Next we meet Andreas Delleske who will give us a tour of the 20 unit passive solar apartment building he built with co-owners. This stunningly simple and yet beautiful building shows how we can reduce energy demand in buildings by 90%. Incorporated into the building are a large solar PV array that generates electricity, a massive solar thermal water heating system, and a green roof. Also included are passive solar design for natural heating a cooling without any mechanical energy required. Finally, we learn from Andreas how they implemented an alternative waste water treatment system that closes the loop on resource depetion while generating energy (from biogas) and providing fertilizer to local farmers.
Finally, we are introduced to a community wind farm development as well as a zero emissions factor that produces solar panels without any net carbon emissions. The future is here. All we need to do now is learn from these solar pioneers and a clean green future will be ours.
