Wight Turns Green

SUSTAINABILITY

Britain's Isle of Wight, located about three miles off England's south coast, is mainly famous for its annual music festival. But now, with backing from the government, it aims to be the U.K.'s largest sustainable energy project. Just 23 miles long and 1 3 miles wide with a population of 142,500, the island seeks to become a net exporter of energy, cutting residents' energy bills by half and eliminating waste going to its landfill - all by 2020. The so-called Ecoisland partnership includes some impressive corporate names, including Toshiba, IBM, Cable & Wireless, Silver Springs Networks and wind-turbine maker Vestas, which has a large research center on the island. A $3.9 million solar energy project would provide electricity to 3,500 homes, and power also would come from geothermal, wind, and tidal sources. Electric cars, smart-grid technology, improved building insulation, and a rainwater-capture system would be part of the mix. The island has a head start on its green future. Impressively, it already recycles half its trash. - TG

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Britain's Isle ol Wight seeks to become a net exporter ol energy.