Vietnamese technology wins UN environment award

Vietnamese technology has won the 2009 Energy Globe Awards (EGW), sponsored by the UN Environmental Program (UNEP), for using rice husks to replace fossil fuels. The technology, with ceramic kilns fed by rice husks, was put into operation in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in 2009 by the Centre for the Research and Development of Energy Savings (ENERTEAM) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The ENERTEAM said the project has provided green brick technology for the Mekong Delta, home to thousands of traditional ceramic kilns in threat of being closed for using old technology that seriously pollutes the environment. (May 11, 2010)