Architects, designers, and companies seeking to look good while doing good may soon have a new tool in their belt. A German company recently announced a breakthrough in solar technology: photovoltaic modules that can be imprinted with colorful designs or logos.

The new solar modules, developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems (ISE) use organic dyes in combination with nanoparticles to produce electricity. The key component of the new modules is the organic dye which converts sunlight into electricity. Due to the small size of the nanoparticles, the modules are semi-transparent. This aspect makes them well suited for integration into building facades. It is possible to produce the modules in a range of colors, or even to print images or text on the module so that it serves as a decorative element.

These design options open up an entirely new range of possible applications. Instead of mounting the solar module on the roof of a building, the electricity producer could be integrated in the glass facade. Used in this way, the new technology not only prohibits direct sunlight from entering the building interior but also generates electricity at the same time.

Read More in RenewableEnergyAccess.com.

As recently reported in Grist, the conventional fuel industries in the US are facing a number of critical issues that will undoubtedly cause further destabilizing uncertainty in US and global energy markets.

Among other issues that are coming to a head in the short-term future, are the following:

Nuclear plants in the southeastern U.S. may be forced to cut power production or temporarily shut down later this year because the year-long drought has left too little water to cool the reactors.

As recently revealed in an internal email at Shell Corporation, the production of conventional oil supplies won't be able to keep pace with world demand after 2015. This means that the much-vaunted phenomenon of Peak Oil, after which oil prices will increase dramatically, is closer than anyone in the industry has cared to admit.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it has cancelled plans to build the country's first clean-coal plant in Illinois. The DOE cited economics. The promise of clean coal, which struck so many of us as oxymoronic to begin with, may prove to be so much hot air.

Clearly, for those who have the courage to look, the end of the era of finite fuels is in sight. The end always was inevitable, of course. That's what finite is all about. But it seems clear from all available news and data that oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy -- let's call them the Finite Four -- are entering their end game.

Read More at Grist:

As the solar industry grows at breakneck speeds, a bottleneck is developing. Namely, thousands more solar installers will be needed in the coming years to meet anticipated demand for residential and commercial solar installations in the US. In 2007 alone, the US PV market grew by 70%, and the US solar hot water market grew by 50%. This will mean that over 5,000 new installers will need to be trained in the US by 2015, according to federal government estimates. The greatest need will be in California, where funding is in place to install 3,000 Megawatts of solar power. The current problem is that there are not enough trained installers available to do the job.

As described in a recent issue of Sun and Wind Energy magazine, The Solar Living Institute has long been one of the country's premier sources of renewable energy education. To meet the challenge of the new millennium, we have ramped up our workshop offerings again, with more solar installer classes, in more locations, being offered than ever before.

With professional solar classes ranging from one day to one week, and locations throughout California and beyond, there is a class and location for everyone.

Visit our website to find out more about the Solar Living Institute's courses to prepare individuals for careers in the solar industry.

Is the world headed for a food crisis? India, Mexico and Yemen saw food riots last year. Argentines boycotted tomatoes during the country's recent presidential elections when the vegetable became more expensive than meat; and in Italy, shoppers organized a one-day boycott of pasta to protest rising prices. In late October, the Russian government, hoping to ease tensions ahead of parliamentary elections, announced a price freeze for milk, bread and other foods through the end of January.

What's more, worldwide food reserves are at their lowest in 35 years, so prices are likely to stay high for the foreseeable future. "Past shocks have quickly dissipated, but that's not likely to be the case this time," says Ali Ghurkan, a Rome-based FAO analyst. "Supply and demand have become unbalanced, and... can't be fixed quickly."

What's the cause for these shortages and price hikes? Expensive oil, for the most part. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported in November that, at nearly $100 a barrel, the price of oil has sent the cost of food imports skyrocketing. Add in escalating crop prices, the FAO warned, and a direct consequence could soon be an increase in global hunger - and, as a consequence, increased social unrest. Faced with internal rumblings, "politicians tend to act to protect their own nationals rather than for the good of all," says Ghurkan. Because of the lack of international cooperation, he adds, "Worldwide markets get tighter and the pain only lasts longer."

The world's food import bill [rose] in 2007 to $745 billion, up 21% from [2006], the FAO estimated in its biannual Food Outlook. In developing countries, costs will go up by a quarter to nearly $233 billion. The FAO says the price increases are a result of record oil prices, farmers switching out of cereals to grow biofuel crops, extreme weather and growing demand from countries like India and China. The year 2008 will likely offer no relief. "The situation could deteriorate further in the coming months," the FAO report cautioned, "leading to a reduction in imports and consumption in many low-income food-deficit countries."

On the supply side, one of the key issues is biofuels. Biofuels, made from food crops such as corn, sugar cane, and palm oil, are seen as easing the world's dependence on gasoline or diesel. But when crude oil is expensive, as it is now, these alternative energy sources can also be sold at market-competitive prices, rising steeply in relation to petroleum.

With one-quarter of the U.S. corn harvest in 2007 diverted towards biofuel production, the attendant rise in cereal prices has already had an impact on the cost and availability of food. Critics worry that the gold rush toward biofuels is taking away food from the hungry. Jean Ziegler, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on The Right to Food, recently described it as a "crime against humanity" to convert food crops to fuel, calling for a five-year moratorium on biofuel production.

As gas prices continue to skyrocket, the interest in alternative fuels and transportation continues to grow. Some car companies already offer hybrid vehicles, and all of them are promising new technologies "down the road."

But many of you want to know what you can do today to do your part in ending our national oil addiction. The good news is that there are technologies available right now that can enable your transition to fossil-fuel free transportation; join us this coming weekend of February 16-17 in San Francisco and learn about the latest and greatest of transportation technology with Solar Living experts.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are economical, silent and efficient, produce zero-emissions, and can be charged from any source of renewable electricity. If you would like to learn more about buying an EV, or even building your own, take our Build or Buy an Electric Vehicle workshop in San Francisco on February 16 to gain an understanding of the science and technology behind the many EVs.

Another alternative fuel much on the minds of the press and pundits is ethanol, which is not only produced from grains, but can also be produced from agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to waste. On February 17 in Alcohol an be a Gas, led by noted author and PBS series host David Blume, you'll learn about the history of ethanol as the first auto fuel, how you can produce ethanol for about 43 cents per gallon, how to inexpensively convert vehicles to run on ethanol, and how to obtain tax credit for production and use of alcohol fuel and much more!

To see a list of all our workshops and classes, just click here.

As reported in a recent issue of Business Week, a growing number of professionals are making the switch to a green career. After all, most of us spend a majority of our waking hours at work, so it makes all kinds of sense to align our careers with our values.

Whether transferring skills to a whole new field, such as in the case of a architect becoming an activist, or whether simply emphasizing green aspects in current careers, as in the case of builders 'going green,' we can all walk our talk by working for what we believe in every day.

The field of green careers will be one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy in future years. From alternative fuels to food production, the opportunities are immense.

To learn more about how you can launch your green career, consider taking one of the SLI's many green career workshops, designed to help you jumpstart your green career.

Responding to requests from our students, and the clear needs of the market, the SLI has expanded our lineup of courses designed for solar professionals. These classes will help you hone your business and market skills to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

A full lineup of solar business courses are coming to Redwood City, CA from February 21-24. Click on the links below to read more. Sign up for one or for all on our website.

February 21: Solar Sales and Marketing
In this intensive workshop for both solar salespeople and sales management/owners, two PV industry veterans share their secrets for setting up a solid and effective sales team, then generating tons of leads for and with them.

February 22: Economics of Solar: Making the Financial Case
Most customers know that solar electric is a good environmental choice, but few are aware that it can also be a remarkably sound investment. This rigorous interactive workshop is designed to help dealers, installers, and salespeople understand and make the most accurate and compelling financial case possible for the value of PV systems. The class is focused on residential systems in PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E utilities (depending on location) and serves as a prerequisite to the advanced class. Other states & utilities can be examined during the end-of-day interactive session.

February 23: Commercial Solar Economics & Financing
This rigorous interactive workshop is designed to help commercial systems integrators (dealers, installers, and salespeople) understand and make the financial case for commercial PV systems in PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E utilities (depending on location), then understand how to finance them with PPAs and Leases.

February 24: Find Your Dream Job in Solar
California is one of the hottest markets in the country for the rapidly growing solar industry. In this illuminating one-day workshop, solar industry insiders will share strategies for finding a fulfilling job in solar, and discuss key trends and opportunities, and provide a holistic understanding of the industry - including economics, regulatory environment, marketing and technology development.

2008 will prove to be a very exciting year for the gardens of the Solar Living Institute! Demonstrating sustainable local food production to the 200,000 yearly visitors that frequent the Solar Living Center is of increasing priority. With the winter rains upon us, we are spending our time planning for several major developments in the New Year: organic certification, biodynamic certification, and the installation of a new kitchen garden in the intern village.

The Institute is in the final stages of organic certification with Stellar Certification Services for the produce of our current kitchen garden and fruit trees. While produce is only available at our on-site farm stand at this time, organic certification is a step toward making high-quality organic produce available within the local food market. We're also seeking certification with Demeter, Stellar's sister organization that promotes bio-dynamic agriculture.

Finally, the spring of 2008 will see the development of a second kitchen garden on the SLI grounds. Transforming a portion of the intern village's southern exposure will better meet the food access needs of the interns and make food production of increasing priority. This garden will feature permaculture techniques including an herb spiral, keyhole beds, trellising on existing structures, and recycled tire planters. Not only will the new garden provide more food for the intern community, it will also provide a means for further educating the interns about personal food production and beautifying the intern living space. 2008 will truly be a year of growth for the SLI's garden program; stay tuned for more developments!

More information about our internship program and application instructions are listed on our website; we are currently accepting applications for Summer 2008!

Many of you have made generous contributions to the SLI this year. For all of you who have made donations, we thank you!

We exceeded our end-of-year fundraising goal by raising over $50,000 in December alone. We are very excited and pleased by the opportunities your support will provide us: teaching more children, expanding our tour programs, and providing more support to our interns.

As all of you know, despite our phenomenal growth in the past year, there is still much work to be done. Our plans include bringing more of our education on the road, and offering workshops and educational programs in new locations. We also want to keep upgrading our 12-acre demonstration site with a state-of-the-art solar classroom and many new displays and signage. You can be a part of all this by becoming a partner or donor to the Solar Living Institute.

Partners, who support us through annual dues and our growing continuous-giving program, are essential to funding the Solar Living Institute. The annual financial support of folks like you, which can range from as little as $35 a year to $2,500 or $10,000, helps us continue to grow and thrive.

There are many ways you can join with us and get involved, including volunteering, taking workshops, shopping at our online bookstore, or becoming an intern. You can even support us every time you do an online search or purchase goods or services from a wide array of other business by using GoodSearch.

All your support and contributions are critical to help us to continue to grow since our work is far from over! If you have never been an Institute partner, or if your partnership has lapsed, won't you please join us in inspiring and educating people about sustainable living? Even the smallest contribution can help.

Find out more about our partnerships, and some of the many thank-you gifts you can receive for your support.

Thank You!

We have two job openings at the Solar Living Institute.

Please follow the links below for more information on the positions and how to apply:

Administrative Assistant
Outside Events Coordinator

For energy and environmental positions throughout the world, the following are some good websites for your review:

• Green Dream Jobs
• Environmental Jobs & Careers
• Environmental Career Opportunities (EcoJobs)
• EcoEmploy.com
• Idealist.org
• Orion Grassroots Network
• EnvironmentalCareer.com
• Green Energy Jobs