"The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity,"
by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder. Collins, 2007

"We are at the beginning of a revolution that is changing the places where we live and work, the products we manufacture and purchase, and the development plans of cities, regional governments and nations around the globe." If this quote makes you curious about the amazing technological advances that are happening right now, "The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity" by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder presents a clear, intelligently written roadmap to this new frontier.

According Mr. Pernick, founder of Clean Edge Inc., a leading green business consulting and research firm, solutions for decreasing our dependence on nonrenewable resources will come from innovations in eight major clean technology areas: solar energy; wind power; biofuels and biomaterials; green building; personal transportation; smart grid; mobile applications; and water filtration.

Insightful discussions of each energy sector explain present and future applications, as well as many difficult challenges in terms of cost, environmental concerns and consumer acceptance. For example, ethanol fuel stations are scarce in many parts of the country, and because there are no pipelines for ethanol, transportation costs are high. How much corn needs to be grown to satisfy ethanol production without impacting the nation's food supply?

On the positive side, new fuel economy standards have been established for cars and trucks: The recent Detroit Auto Show showcased vehicles that will run on electricity, hydrogen fuel cells and other sources of renewable energy. Conventional incandescent light bulbs soon will be replaced by compact fluorescents that last six times longer and use far less energy. New buildings and homes are being constructed -- and mandated, in some locations -- to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards. According to the National Association of Home Builders, "green building is the industry's most significant new development in decades and has the large-scale clout that's transforming efficiency in U.S. homes." Pittsburghers can take pride in knowing that when the David L. Lawrence Convention Center opened in 2003, it was the largest building in the world to meet LEED standards as an environmentally friendly building.

There is a wealth of investment opportunities associated with these cutting-edge technologies, which makes "The Clean Tech Revolution" particularly valuable to entrepreneurs, individual investors and venture capitalists. Each chapter includes a list of domestic and international "10 Companies to Watch," which are leaders and innovators in their particular sector. If you need to be convinced that investing in clean tech can be profitable, consider this: The Nasdaq Cleantech Index (CTIUS), which tracks 47 leading clean tech companies from a broad range of industry sectors, posted 2007 returns that far exceeded those of the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index. Last year, venture capital investment in clean tech totaled $5.18 billion, a record high. Solar cell production jumped 50 percent and wind power capacity expanded by 45 percent (For the very latest information, check www.cleanedge.com).

The clean tech sector is stimulating the economy by generating high-paying professional jobs and exciting new opportunities for scientists, engineers, architects, building contractors and related support services. Readers of "The Clean Tech Revolution" will be rewarded twice. First, you'll gain an understanding of how clean tech is dramatically improving the quality of the environment -- and life -- around the world. You also will become familiar with the companies that are on the forefront of the clean tech revolution working to improve their bottom line as well as our planet.