I'm currently developing energy efficiency programs for small, remote communities (25-400 households). As the electric utility, the cost of serving these customers is high and the environmental impacts are significant (small diesel generators provide most of the electricity). I'm hoping to find examples of other programs targeting small communities to learn how to best address barriers such as lack of customer capacity (e.g. trained installers), limited availability of energy-efficient products in the community, and high fixed costs of program delivery.
Thanks for your help.
Gareth Clarke
BC Hydro
604-453-6392
Gareth Clarke
Canada
Energy Efficiency Programs Designed for Remote Communities?
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Hi Gareth
I am looking for the same thing ! My focus is Island communities in the tropics. I am looking at solar thermal (Micro CSP) and biomass. Low tech, reliable, proven technology that can be maintained by local people.
Are you looking at Canadian communities ? I will let you know if I find any relevant programs and perhaps you will do the same for me.
There is lots of remote community stuff going on in China using micro hydro and biomass, have you checked into that ?
Regards
D
Dan Boyden
United Kingdom
Hi Dan Hi Gareth
Our organisation is currently delivering energy efficiency auditing programmes to schools in the Arhnem Land (Northern Territory) This is one the most remote regions in Australia, If not the world. We will be working with remote aboriginal communities conducting climate change awareness programmes, energy audits, GHG reduction strategies and helping these schools with the installation of renewable tech (PV). The ESSP Energy Smart Schools Programme is Iniative of the DPI(Dep of Infrastructure) and DET(Dep of Education) in the NT government. We will keep you posted if you like.
Mark Smith
Company Director
Planet Savers Australia
Australia
...
Hi Gareth
I'm faced with a similar situation here in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
I am the Chair of our town's Energy Planning Committee. Our town was also generating electricity from diesel until about ten years ago. We no produce most power from natural gas, but the cost is still very high.
We have an experimental project here with two micro-turbine co-generation units in our recreation centre. These units are working out quite well for us. While we are still paying about the same for electricity, we are able to get some free heat for the building and our swimming pool.
I started an utility conservation contest here called Inuvik's Biggest Loser. Customers are competing to see who can reduce their overall utility consumption the most over a one year period, to win one year free utilities.
One thing I want to look into is gasification generation. Since we are so remote, recycling plastics and paper products is not practical, so much of it goes straight into our landfill. If we can burn these items efficiently and generate power from their fuel, we could offset some costs and reduce landfilling.
Although we have some dark months in the winter, we have more solar gain here than Arizona in summer months. We are investigating solar air conditioners and solar water heaters.
I'd like to hear more about what you and others are doing in your remote communities.
Drop a line here or directly to my email
Best of luck,
Terry Halifax
Terry Halifax
Councillor
Town of Inuvik
Canada
www.inuvik.ca