Through its PREP initiative (Promotion of Resource Efficiency Projects), WISIONS has published more than 50 good practice examples from ambitious projects that have been successfully implemented on different continents.

The key objective of PREP was to publish and promote good practice in energy and resource efficiency. A wide range of relevant project case studies from across the globe were identified and, by focusing on a variety of topics and target groups, a broad spectrum of issues and stakeholders were addressed.

Using a key number of internationally accepted criteria, the main consideration for the selection of projects was energy and resource efficiency, but social aspects were also of relevance.  Regional factors acknowledging different needs and potentials were also taken into account.

All projects that fulfilled WISIONS application criteria were independently reviewed and, for each topic, up to five good practice examples were published in PREP brochures.

From 2004 to 2008 WISIONS launched 12 global calls, each time inviting submissions on one important sustainability topic. PREP brochures still serve as a relevant source of new ideas and illustrate improved ways of developing and implementing similar projects in other areas of the world.

On the following pages the good practice examples from the 12 PREP brochures, as well as additional good practice projects within each topic, will be presented.

This topic highlights good practice examples that either use water as the driving agent for provision, or apply renewable energy to improve access to water and water quality in Guatemala, Peru, Tunisia, the Philippines and Tanzania.

Solar Cooling - Using the Sun for Climatisation 

The focus of this brochure is on the application of solar assisted cooling systems, illustrated by good practice examples from Spain, USA, Germany and China.

Sustainable Energy for Poverty Reduction 

This brochure brings together good practice examples of sustainable energy use for alleviating poverty, including solar home systems, productive use of irrigation, awareness programmes, empowerment projects and training programmes from Namibia, Brazil, the Philippines and India.

Food Supply Chain

This topic focuses on the use of renewable energy throughout the food supply chain from renewable energy for rice processing, biodigesters for sustainable cooking and solar dryers to solar cookers and efficient fuel stoves. Projects come from Nigeria, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Cambodia and Kenya. Additionally, the project ‘Food processing and conservation through appropriate solar energy technology’, supported by SEPS, is presented here.

  PixelQuelle.de

This brochure highlights good practice examples in sustainable production and the use of biofuels. Projects come from Ghana, India, Austria and Indonesia and include organic farming practices, village-scale biodiesel-fuelled energy systems and biodiesel-fuelled buses.

Corporate Energy and Material Efficiency ... Makes Good Business Sense

The focus of this topic is corporate energy and material efficiency. Good practice examples from the Slovak Republic, Germany, UK and Peru include projects promoting cleaner production and energy efficiency in companies (especially in SMEs) and an office paper recycling scheme.

This topic highlights good practice in micro-financed sustainable energy systems using e.g. revolving funds or sustainable energy services for rural areas. The projects illustrated are from Peru, South Africa, China and Nepal.

In this brochure, good practice examples in sustainable tourism were selected from Tanzania, Germany, Ecuador, Switzerland and Ghana. The projects include the adoption of renewable energy technologies in hotels as well as awareness-raising for travellers.

This topic highlights good practice in innovative strategies for sustainable transport that foster urban public transport in different ways, with examples from Mexico, Germany, Sweden and Romania.

In this brochure, good practice examples with a combined approach to water and energy from Nepal, Switzerland, Chile, South Africa, Tibet and the Canary Islands are illustrated. Their focus ranges from empowerment projects, technology and knowledge transfer, photovoltaic drip irrigation systems and small hydro plants to desalination with renewable energies.

This topic highlights good practice in resource efficient construction, including retrofitting of buildings, bio-climatic architecture and performance contracting, with examples from Germany, Brazil, Slovenia and South Africa.