A Bricolabs project:The open source washing machine project aims to rethink the way we wash clothes around the world, in accordance with economical, sociological, cultural and environmental aspects. Most of the people in this planet, mostly women, wash clothes by hand in harsh conditions related to poverty, lack of sanitation, water or energy.-websiteIts details could include:a $12 freeduino,which could replace the programmer in any washing machine, because it can manage the keyboard of the washing machine, it can manage the heat and pressure sensors of the machine, and it can manage all the hardware like heater, pumps or valves, and you could program your washing cycles by yourself“. Related articles by ZemantaOpen source washing machine project (makezine.com)Designing Open Source...
The VOA reports on a JTS Semences project(pdf) that also has presence in Niger:Seventy kilometers northeast of Senegal's capital, Dakar, is a long stretch of highway dotted with sprawling baobab trees, leading close to Keur Madaro village.Here, under the prickling African sun and on a land that is mostly dry and dusty, ten vegetable gardens overflow with green leafy vegetables.Last June, a new agricultural initiative known as super vegetable gardens was introduced in Senegal. Nearly a year later, there are more than 150 such gardens throughout the country...[continue reading]Photo courtesy of JTS...
Architecture for Humanity reports on a rainwater harvesting project within Mahiga Hope High School:The Rainwater Court is a full-court basketball court with an integrated rainwater collection and UV purification system with solar panels for the water system and night lighting in areas without electricity. The full-court configuration has a 4,850 sq ft playing surface covered by metal roof and guttered to collect an estimated 90,000 liters of water per year. The building incorporates 25,000 liters of rainwater storage, with UV purification.More...
Jean Pierre Nshimyimana initiator of the LifeEngine Clean Water Project, is developing a business that will provide clean water and green energy technologies and environmental engineering consultancy to provide superior services, designs, knowledge, and green energy solutions to community-based initiatives in Rwanda-LegatumJean Pierre Speaks at Harvard from Sean Clauson on...
At TEDIndia Anupam Mishra discusses traditional water...
Sally Kneidel highlights the off-grid Tshulu Camp whose aim "...is to stimulate the local economy by creating employment and micro-enterprise opportunities in tourism, agriculture and through small business development..."Much of the food prepared in the camp’s kitchen comes from their organic vegetable garden. The garden not only supplies food for the camp kitchen, but also provides employment for villagers living nearby. The vegetable garden is irrigated from underground, which is a plus, as water shortage is a big issue in Africa. The camp uses their waste sustainably too – composting all the vegetable and garden waste to enrich the soil for the organic farm. Meanwhile engineering news profiles an energy-independent house design:All electrical devices in the house are powered by...
An ancient and modern technology Rain Harvesting has the potential to provide a considerable portion of the African continent's water needs. A report contends that the:Overall the quantity of rain falling across the continent is equivalent to the needs of 9 billion people, one and half times the current global population. About a third of Africa is deemed suitable for rainwater harvesting if a threshold of 200 millimetres of arrival rainfall, considered to be at the lower end of the scale, is used...“Africa is not water scarce,” the report concludes. “The rainfall contribution is more than adequate to meet the needs of the current population several times over. For example Kenya would not be categorized as a ‘water stressed country’ if rainwater harvesting is considered. The...