Rational developments of energy systems of different scale (local, national or global) need a complex system of information. The author presents such a system, creating the principles of a virtual model of energy and environment at the regional scale. The information system consists of two basic subsystems-energy and environment. The system information should be supplied with a stream of data, from environmental monitoring. The main problems discussed in the article are renewable energy resources and their presentation in the information system. The author also presents the following: (1) influence of energy processes on the environment; (2) classification of the influence of waste on the environment; (3) the influence of products and technological processes on the environment; and (4) techniques of material waste elimination. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.