Solar Press Presenting At Clean Equity Monaco 2012

Posted on March 26, 2012 by quest

Solar Press will present at CleanEquity Monaco 2012; the conference is on March 29th & 30th at the Sporting d’Hiver, Monaco. Solar Press was included, by expert selection, as one of the world’s most inspiring cleantech companies, to present to industry-specific, senior financial and strategic investors, policy makers,legislators, end users and media.Solar Press (www.solar-press.com) is an early stage company whose vision is to be the world’s leading provider of Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) process technology to enable the low cost reliable manufacture of solar panels in high volume in all regions of the world. Solar Press works in partnership with coating equipment manufacturers and materials suppliers to deliver a unique turn-key manufacturing solution for OPV solar cell production. Solar Press’ customers are companies in all regions of the world wishing to manufacture OPV solar panels to address local market needs.

The Company’s development laboratory and corporate headquarters are in London, UK. Solar Press has received seed funding from Carbon Trust Enterprises Limited.Innovator Capital, the London specialist investment bank, hosts the annual invitation-only event with, this year, the Nobel Sustainability Trust. The Nobel Sustainability Trust is a Nobel family initiative taken by visionaries and global socially responsible Nobel family members, to encourage the research, development, commercialisation and implementation of products and procedures within the field of renewable and sustainable energy.

Other local partners and sponsors include Prince Albert II of Monaco’s Foundation, the Monte-Carlo SBM and the Monaco Chamber of Economic Development.Collaborators on the 2012 event include the Hinduja Foundation, Qualcomm Halo, PR Newswire, Covington & Burling, Ministry of Science and Innovation New Zealand, Auckland UniServices, Clark Langdon Partners, Carbon Trust an the United Nations UNEP Fi.

$120 Million Settlement to Fund Electric Car Charging Stations Across California

Solar Energy Powering Viking River Cruises Longships

Posted on March 14, 2012 by quest

Viking River Cruises a leading world river cruise line, announced today that it has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013. The six vessels will be joining Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, which will be christened on March 21, 2012, and Viking Embla and Viking Aegir, which will be delivered later in 2012.”The new orders reflect the great interest in Viking River Cruises and its revolutionary Longships,” said Viking’s Chairman Torstein Hagen.Viking Longships integrate patent-pending* design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends, to include; Sustainability upgrades, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.

Viking River Cruises, is a leading river cruise company, offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards as well as recognized as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards and by the editors of Cruise Critic as “Best River Cruise Line” in the website’s 4th Annual Editors’ Picks Awards.

The Viking Longship series has been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.”At Viking, we are proud of our Norse heritage. The ancient Vikings were the ultimate explorers, and that tradition lives at Viking River Cruises today. For that reason, we have honored our new Viking Longships — and our beautifully refurbished Russian fleet — with names of celebrated Viking gods and heroes,” said Hagen. With the six additional vessels, Viking will have invested over $400 million in its fleet development program over three years.

Empire State Building greens up its energy

Green Empire State Building for Sale

South Pacific Resort An Eco Innovator

Posted on February 21, 2012 by quest

Paul Gauguin Cruises operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, has announced the completion of a $7 million renovation. The renovation took place during the ship’s 10-night crossing from Tahiti to Brisbane, Australia, as well as during the 11-night drydock that followed, when extensive enhancements were made to both the interiors and exteriors of The Gauguin. Renovations throughout the ship include new flooring and replaced carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel. Additionally, all suites and staterooms feature new teak railings on the balconies and new bathroom flooring

On the culinary front, La Veranda offers guests a redesigned entrance, refinished indoor and outdoor furniture, and solar shades throughout. Le Grill boasts new decorative partitions and divider walls, as well as a new buffet area and new lighting. L’Etoile also features a redesigned entrance in addition to video equipment for conferences. Promenade Deck 5 boasts a new built-in banquette and expanded casino in Le Casino, and Deck 6 received a new integrated display case for books and art. La Palette features a decorative stone band along the front of the bar and an updated lighting system, as well as new outdoor furniture. Le Grand Salon and La Palette offer refurbished dance floors to provide the perfect venue to dance the night away.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., the leader in French Polynesia luxury destination resort who has over 25 years of experience in the French Polynesian tourism market, Pacific Beachcomber is the country’s largest luxury hotel and cruise operator in the region. Pacific Beachcomber is also currently developing a luxury eco-resort, The Brando, located on the actor’s private island and slated to open in 2012. Pacific Beachcomber operates five award winning hotels which are all sustainable and Green Green Globe - EARTHCHECK Certified, including the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is pioneer in use of sea and water air-conditioning (SWAC) technology.

PV WEST HEADING TO SAN JOSE

Marin Therapist Takes EcoTourism To High Ground

Posted on December 11, 2011 by quest

After a few minutes talking with Kathy Kapps you can sense there’s something really unique about her. The tuned in Zen Shiatsu therapist and Marin resident is originally from the motor city of Detroit. She has been traveling back and forth to the Himalayan high mountain kingdom of Nepal since the early eighties. I happened to have met her up on Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands. She would say, “there is no happenstance.” She recently returned from Nepal, a journey she’s been making now for 7 years after a 15 year break. Several months ago I literally ran into her along a steep Marin trail above the Golden Gate Bridge, when she told me she was heading back to the magical kingdom. I wished her well – but what pleasantly surprised me weeks later was an email photo of a prayer flag she had placed for my mother. It turns out she places prayer flags at the Khumbu Glacier two days away from base camp at Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. She told me,”The memorial prayer flags for those lost loved ones are hung at the sacred memorial site at the end of the Khumbu Glacier. The sacred site is at the end of the whole huge Khumbu glacier and many people who died climbing Everest are memorialized there. My personal prayer flags for friends and family are hung at the foot of ‘Lady Everest.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Kat as she is affectionately called not only places prayer flags, but also takes needed medical supplies to hospitals in the remote areas of the Solo Khumbu an area high in the Himalayas outside the ancient and busy city of Kathmandu.In addition to this she has also raised funds to contribute to the education of a college bound student who will be majoring in tourism.

In her soon to be released book “The Inner Mandala” Kat writes about her own personal losses and discoveries. For close to thirty years Kat has been a practicing Zen Shiatsu therapist and instructor working in San Francisco and Marin county. Inspired by author and philosopher Dadaji whom Kat says profoundly changed her life for the better, she is initiating a new venture,“Lady Everest” for those who are interested in learning and exploring Mount Everest, the Himalayas and the Nepal region. By Richard Andrews

Green Jobs Forecast

New Flights Into Costa Rica’s Ecotourism Haven

Posted on November 22, 2011 by quest

Costa Rica is truly a magical place and apparently JetBlue Airways realizes this because they recently announced four new weekly non-stop flights to Liberia, in Costa Rica’s rich Guanacaste region; from its home base at New York’s JFK Airport. Liberia, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, will be the airline’s second destination in the country. JetBlue has served Juan Santamaria International Airport in the capital, San Jose, with nonstop service from Orlando, since 2009. Named after the national tree of Costa Rica, Guanacaste is one of the country’s most popular vacation and ecotourism destinations thanks to nearly a dozen well-known biological reserves, national parks and wildlife refuges. Known as a haven for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers alike, stunning Pacific coastlines are plentiful in this northwestern province, as are the seemingly endless hours of summer sunlight.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

JetBlue five-hour flights between New York and Liberia will be operated with the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring convenient, assigned seating; a first-checked bag free; complimentary and unlimited name brand snacks and drinks; comfy leather seats; more legroom than any other carrier in coach ; and its award-winning customer service.

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. The country represents only .05 percent of the planet’s surface but shelters almost 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity and 3.5 percent of the world’s marine life. Costa Rica is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, four types of forest, 12 microclimates and more than 500 species of flora and fauna, with more than 26 percent of its territory comprising national parks and other protected areas, making the country one of the most popular sustainable tourism destinations in the world. To celebrate, the airline is also offering an inaugural fare of only $119 if booked by December 1, 2011 for travel through February 15, 2012. We look forward to welcoming JetBlue passengers into our country, where they can experience first-hand our rich culture, commitment to sustainability and the happiness that is unique to our country,” commented Costa Rica Minister of Tourism Allan Flores.

ParkVida Tree Houses Welcomes Ecotourism Adventurers

Posted on September 25, 2011 by quest

ParkVida Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the purchase of JBP SRL from Park Capital Management, Inc., in addition to a new name and symbol. JBP is a Dominican based limited liability company intent on developing a first class resort devoted to mountain bike riding and eco-tourism. The development is known as ParkVida. ParkVida is located at the top of the Cordillera Central mountain range in the Dominican Republic on a 700 acre former coffee plantation that is adjacent to the Armando Bermudez National Park. The development will offer 199 hotel rooms, cottages and “tree houses” in harmony with the environment as a welcome alternative for travelers seeking a deluxe outdoor experience over traditional packaged tours.

Adventure activities will focus on downhill and cross-country mountain biking with a dedicated chairlift for the uphill return. ParkVida’s destination riding vacation will be designed for mountain biking enthusiasts who want to focus on the trail, the ride, and the thrill of riding with the promise of great accommodation, service and relaxation. Personal skills will be matched with equipment and guidance to provide that “local trail” experience on a host of trails engineered and hand built by bikers for bikers. Other ParkVida activities will include zip lining, adventure rope courses, water slides, hiking, fishing, spa, mule riding, quad biking, cultural classes, eco tours and coffee related experiences such as growing, roasting and brewing.

JBP is in the process of finalizing design plans and seeking out regulatory permits that would enable the first phase of construction at ParkVida. Management hopes to begin construction of the resort early next year subject to receiving approvals from local authorities, the completion of an environmental study and the realization of financing efforts.