Energy Globe World Award goes to Nicaragua – 13 kg Bronze Statue for “Solar Women”
Austria wins prize in category “Fire” with a unique Algae Cultivation Method
Salzburg – The Energy Globe World Award goes to Nicaragua! With a happy “Muchas Gracias” Martha Veronica Rocha received the 13 kg bronze statue for her organization FUPROSOMUNIC in the studio of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Salzburg on Tuesday, 4th February 2014. Salzburg Governor Wilfried Haslauer, Salzburg Mayor Heinz Schaden, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church Peter Turkson and Energy Globe Founder Wolfgang Neumann presented the award. Austria also excelled as a category winner in “Fire.” Wolfgang Neumann: “These projects are a strong signal – they show the world that our environmental problems can be solved anywhere in many ways”.
The Nicaraguan winning project, which was also the winner in category “Air”, combines ideally environmental protection with social commitment: the protagonists of the Solar Project Foundation for Nicaraguan Woman (FUPROSOMUNIC) build solar ovens, which are used not only for cooking but also for drying fruits and vegetables which are in turn marketed. The now 700 “Solar Women” train other women, propagate their know-how at exhibitions and events and thus make an invaluable contribution to the fight against deforestation, promote clean energy, create jobs, training and modest prosperity.
The Austrian company ecoduna Produktions AG got a prize in category “Fire” with a globally unique algae growing process. In reactors powered by energy from photovoltaic they grow algae, from which valuable oils and bio fuels are obtained. The process is extremely energy efficient and sustainable.
The U.S. company Ecovative Design LLC made it in category “Earth”. Goal of the company is to avoid toxic waste, like polystyrene. The pioneering innovation: fungi produce 100% compostable packaging in a highly energy efficient process. The packaging is even edible and – disposed of in the garden – serve as fertilizers for plants.
For the United Kingdom the British designer Francesca Mancini won the award in category “Water”: she developed a simple construction for households to directly use gray water from showers and sinks for flushing toilets – so enormous amounts of water can be saved.
The Cyprus NGO “Cans for Kids” won the race in category “Youth”. In voluntary work young people collect aluminum cans, press and sell them. The proceeds are donated to a children’s hospital. 260,000 Euros have been already raised.
The ENERGY GLOBE Award ceremony was organized jointly with the Salzburg Regional Government and the City of Salzburg, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) Salzburg and the Federal Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The Energy Globe Award is today – with over 160 participating countries and more than 1000 submissions annually – the world’s largest environmental prize.
All details on www.energyglobe.info.
Contact: Energy Globe, Cornelia Kirchweger, T: +43 (0)7617-2090-30, M: +43(0)664-390 60 90,
cornelia.kirchweger@energyglobe.com
