Finca Bellavista -- Solar Treehouse

     Tucked away in the Costa Rican rainforest is the remote treehouse community, Finca Bellavista, built by two Americans who wanted to create a village like that of the Ewoks of Endor in the movie, "Star Wars," who lived high among the trees. The eco-friendly village features many tree homes, including Mis Ojos. This two-level abode includes a porch, kitchenette, bathroom and outdoor shower and offers amazing cliff and waterfall views. The off-the-grid complex relies on solar and wind power for energy, composting toilets and running water collected in gravity-fed rainwater catch tanks above the abodes.

U.S. Supports Costa Rica in Clean Energy Initiatives

U.S. ambassador Anne S. Andrew joins representatives from each of the winning projects of the Clean Energy Regional Contest. Winners were announced at the University of Costa Rica Planetarium in San Pedro, east of San Jose, on Thursday

     On Thursday, U.S. ambassador Anne S. Andrew along with University of Costa Rica Vice Rector Carlos Raya had presented awards for Costa Rican initiatives to develop renewable energy and other environmental themes. Announced last year by the U.S. State Department and financed by the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), 20 projects had entered the Clean Energy Regional Contest.
     At the University of Costa Rica Planetarium in San Pedro, east of San Jose, 5 winners had been announced. The following winners include: University of Costa Rica, with a project that will introduce the use of alternative energy including solar, wind and biomass in the coffee industry in Central America; Academia de Profesionales Solares de las Americas, which will train professional individuals on how to use solar energy in their businesses; Purdue University, with a plan to promote the use of solar energy in the Caribbean; SNV, a non-governmental organization that will introduce the use of biogas in livestock and coffee industries; and Yo Emprendedor, an association that motivates entrepreneurship with a project that will help a new generation of business owners develop green companies. These following winning projects will each receive a grant up to a total of $210,000.
      "Our countries (the U.S. and Costa Rica) are taking steps to reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons and to promote clean-energy technologies and policies as well as energy efficiency in all sectors," Andrew said. The U.S. State Department had also donated $1 million from ECPA to Michigan State University, which is currently working with University of Costa Rica, to develop solar bio-energy from waste products.