New experiences lead to new ideals
This past summer I had the opportunity to study at one of the most accredited renewable energy institutes in the United States of America, the Solar Energy International in Carbondale, Colorado. Green Mountain College has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI) because of its cutting edge technology, resources, and specialized classes based in the field of renewable energy and design. This Colorado- based institution specialized in utilizing renewable energy resources like sun, wind, and water and their uses for sustainable energy which are efficient, reliable, and cost effective. My experience at SEI was incredible; I got to see the beautiful landscape of Colorado and study something I am interested in.
Solar Energy International was founded in 1991 as a non-profit Educational organization. They offer hands on workshops specializing in renewable energy. SEI also offers classes in remote areas all over the world, where there are abundant supplies of potentially usable resources for renewable energy. The instructors that I came in contact with at SEI were helpful, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable in the field of renewable energy. Their primary focus was to help shape and influence people’s mindset on energy efficiency, and they certainly influenced mine.
One of my instructors, Ed, has been involved in many renewable energy educational demonstrations for the general public. He has helped in providing many schools and state parks with photovoltaic installations. Ed provided my SEI class with an interactive lesson on LED lights powered by solar energy. This hands on experience taught me how to wire LED lights to an energy source. In a developing country, this would allow communities to have a source of light at all hours.
The potential for positive change is becoming more and more prominent, as more methods based on sustainability are applied. The cycle of poverty in third world countries is often effected by the supply of energy available on a local based scale. A lot of time is spent in people going out of their villages and finding energy services. These services, like kerosene for cooking, often are rare and have negative environmental effects. What these people need is a more locally based sustainable source of energy.
I learned some interesting energy efficient methods at SEI, like solar ovens, solar food dryers, and water distillation. The solar oven does not use any electricity; instead it simply uses radiation from the sun to cook meals. This is an alternative to burning wood in order to cook food. In most areas, burning wood is the main fuel source for heating and cooking. Burning wood should be avoided due to the number of negative externalities it produces; it greatly contributes to pollution levels in the atmosphere. Using a solar oven and setting one up is a simple processes. One can be made out of something as simple as an open suitcase. A solar oven is basically an open box, with a black backing used for absorbing solar radiation, with an attached reflecting piece. Tin foil and mirrors can be used as reflectors, and they need to face the south in order to absorb as much solar radiation as possible. Their job is to direct the sunlight on the black backing. The food is place in between the black backings and often large smooth rocks are used in between the food being cooked because they provide an increased amount of heat to their surroundings. The food stays in the oven for 3-4 hours until it is cooked. This method is proven to be sustainable, simple, and delicious.
A solar parabolic cooker is another method that can be obtained fairly easy and performs efficiently. The radiation from the sun is collected on a piece that is shaped like a TV satellite. The energy is concentrated onto another piece where the food can be cooked at a temperature high enough to fry an egg.
Solar food drying is a method that requires no electricity and can potentially improve the lives of millions who are poverty stricken. This tool can replace a refrigerator because it has the ability to preserve food. Large harvests of nuts, fruits and other foods can be dried out and preserved for long term use or for sales. The direct food dryer is where direct radiation from the sun preserves the product. Another method involves an intake system, in which hot air is sucked in the bottom of the system and sent out the top. The food is placed in trays where they can come into contact with the dry air. I was impressed to see that one of these models was actually being used on the GMC farm.
In third world countries thousands of children die every year from lack of clean water. A water distillation device, that uses the sun to naturally clean water, can greatly improve the lives of these individuals. A large collector is filled with contaminated water and it is covered with two layers of transparent film with a black water collector between them. The water is evaporated and distilled. It builds up in a collector between the sheets of transparent film. This method takes out all harmful contaminants and provides clean water.
Short URL: http://www.themountaineer.org/?p=1115
Posted by Christian Sapovits
on Dec 9, 2009 Filed under Featured, Green @ Green.
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