Through all of my travels one thing became very apparent to me. The effect of artificially raising the price of energy after the OPEC oil embargo in the 70’s through the creation of a tax has had profound effects on their built environment. The majority of European cities are about 30 years ahead of us in the development of a low energy infrastructure.

ASPO - The Association for the Study of Peak Oil has probably done more than any other single organization towards spreading knowledge about the impending liquid fuel crisis. Founded by geologist Collin Campbell the association has grown from a research group into an organization putting on an annual international conference which brings together: scientists, engineers, industry leaders, political figures, and concerned citizens from all over the world to learn and discuss this massive issue.

As I have been traveling around I have been trying to keep track of fuel prices in different regions. Here are the results adjusted to be in U.S. dollars per gallon.

    The Center for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales is a great demonstration site for all different types of sustainable practices. The site offers demonstrations that give visitors hands on experience to better understand the power of wind, water and the sun.

            Findhorn is an amazing nondenominational spiritually focused ecovillage located in the northern part of Scotland. In the early 60’s Findhorn became nationally known because of some amazing agricultural achievements.

            I have seen these bike taxis in many of the European cities I have visited but in Prague I finally decided to hire one for a ride. I picked the right cab because the driver was nice enough (or tired enough) to let me drive most of the way to my destination. 

            Hundertwasser was an artist turned Architect who originally lived in Austria where he designed his first buildings. This building is yet another great example of a hundred year old building pushing the envelope of green building design.

High in the Swiss Alps you will find beautiful sights as well as self sustaining villages.

            While wandering the streets in Interlaken, Switzerland I was excited to stumble onto my first European Biodiesel station. This station sold biodiesel made from rape or canola seed.

            Barcelona is a good example of a large city offering many transportation options. Here they have a Bus system, A metro, and private automobile combined with pedestrian and bike throughways.