During the last fifty years air condition i ng has become commonplace in commercial buildings and, in this time, we have managed to generate a poor image, both in the press and among the people who occupy air conditioned buildings. How have we succeeded in turning what people in hot countries regard as a blessing into a target for criticism and even abuse?

The book discusses issues raised by the "experience effect", such as price-cost cycles, competition for learning opportunities in the market, risk of "technology lockout" and the effects of research, development and deployment policies on technology learning. Case studies illustrate how experience curves can be used to set policy targets and to design policy measures that will encourage both investment in and use of environment-friendly energy technologies. Low-cost paths to stabilising CO2 emissions are explored.

Overview of the programme, covers opportunities for solar energy in the 21st century, advancing solar building technologies, solar low energy buildings, and the future.