Markets are growing as never before; by 2015 a billion new
consumers in the emerging economies will have entered the world
market. All consumers have a nearly endless stream of choices to
satisfy their appetite for personalized products and customized
services. But a growing awareness of our limited energy
resources and our fragile environment creates demand for a new
generation of sustainable products, most of which will have to
be "smarter" than ever before. A sustainable future As polluting
fossil-based energy becomes scarcer, unstable and more
expensive, governments are taking measures for a balanced energy
mix that combines conventional and renewable sources, and are
making regulations to steer consumer's behavior. By 2030 global
energy use will be doubled, but CO2- emissions will have to be
reduced by 80% to 95% by 2050. The race to reduce greenhouse
gasses and to achieve greater energy effi ciency is offering
some of the most challenging engineering opportunities in
decades. Manufacturers and suppliers