DURHAM, N.C. – Energy visionary Amory Lovins, one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for Our Planet,” will give a free, public talk at 91 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Lovins’ talk will take place at Love Auditorium in the Levine Science Research Center on Duke’s West Campus.  He will discuss “Profitable Solutions for Climate, Oil and Proliferation.”

The talk is the 2009 Duke Environment and Society Lecture, sponsored by the Nicholas School of the Environment.

A physicist by training, Lovins is chairman and chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute in Snowmass, Colo., and chairman emeritus of Fiberforge Inc.  He advises governments and major firms worldwide on advanced energy and resource efficiency and has led the technical redesign of more than $30 billion worth of facilities in 29 economic sectors to achieve greater energy efficiency at typically lower capital costs.

In recognition of his achievements, he has been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, 10 honorary doctorates, the Benjamin Franklin and Happold medals, the Heinz, Lindbergh, Right Livelihood and World Technology awards, and the Blue Planet, Volvo, Onassis, Nissan, Shingo and Mitchell prizes, among other international honors.

A Q&A with audience members will follow Lovins’ talk. A free public reception will precede it at 5:15 p.m.

The talk and Q&A will be streamed live to the Web at www.nicholas.duke.edu/deanseries, with the opportunity for members of the Web audience to send in questions via e-mail and Twitter.

Lovins’ talk is part of an ongoing new series instituted by William L. Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School, to bring to Duke major players who are helping build a sustainable future.