Costa Rica’s efforts to become a “carbon neutral” country by the year 2021 incorporates various kinds of renewable energy including solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. The recent inauguration of wind farm Parque Eolico Valle Central in the mountains of Santa Ana is the newest addition to a collection of wind farms throughout the country. In total there are 11 wind farms nationwide. This particular wind farm “will produce up to 15.3 megawatts of clean energy, equivalent to the energy needs of 9,000 families.”

The province of Guanacaste has also seen development in the area of renewable energy. On November 22 Costa Rica introduced its first solar park located in the foothills of the Miravalles Volcano. Photovoltaic (PV) energy will be captured using solar panels, and the park will be the largest of its kind being “equipped with 4,300 PV modules.” The energy produced by this park will be used to provide power to hundreds of local Costa Rican families.

There may be a connection between spending time outdoors and thinking clearly claims this recent article which explored creativity as it relates to time away from technology in an outdoor setting. Students participating in Outward Bound courses were given a creativity test before heading out in the field and afterward. The results were dramatic indicating a 50% increase in problem solving performance after spending several days outside. So ditch your computer, iPod, smart phone and other electronic devices and get outdoors!