The global outcry against the use of braai charcoal produced from rainforest trees, which leads to devastating forest degradation primarily in South American and African countries, is boosting the demand and production of eco-friendly charcoal certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The eco-friendly charcoal is made from ideally suited hardwood invasive alien … [Read more...]
Future path towards sustainable cooking in the global south
The role of renewable electricity for the cooking sector in the Global South has been widely underestimated. As the costs of Renewable Energy technologies continue to decline, cleaner and more modern technologies represent an entirely new pathway towards sustainable cooking in developing countries. These are the findings of the new report ‘Beyond Fire’ launched by the … [Read more...]
How to save on tax through your energy efficiency
A special tax incentive to save energy was promulgated on 1 November, but how does that work? We are talking about the “Regulations in terms of Section 12L of the Income Tax Act, 1962, on the allowance for energy efficiency savings.” The allowance is for the purpose of determining the taxable income derived by any person from carrying on any trade in respect of any year of … [Read more...]
From waste to wonder
A little over a centimeter long, the common duckweed, Spirodela polyrrhiza, is often found colonizing ponds and lakes in a carpet of green. With a global distribution, the duckweed family claims the Guinness for some of the smallest, simplest, and fastest growing plants of the botanical world. Yet, despite their unassuming nature, these tiny fronds are making a huge splash in … [Read more...]
Renewable energy syndrome
An abattoir in Nairobi converts waste, using a biogas plant to produce about 30 Kilowatts of power to run the electricity in the abattoir. BiogenGreenFinch in the UK uses food waste in their anaerobic digestion plants, to produce a bio fertiliser to grow crops. In the Republic of Ireland, there are presently 6 energy stations, where processed peat moss is crushed and then … [Read more...]
Clean cookstoves will save millions of lives
The invention of fire tens of thousands of years ago was one of the most powerful developments in all of human history. Fire for cooking made it possible for us to eat a whole range of foods that were previously left out of our diets or perhaps consumed raw. Fire for heating allowed us to expand our living area to higher latitudes. This transformed our patterns of social … [Read more...]
