Grantee Research Project Results
Green Energy for a Dormitory in Kitale, Kenya
EPA Grant Number: SU833922Title: Green Energy for a Dormitory in Kitale, Kenya
Investigators: Appel, Philip , Striebig, Bradley A. , Nalelia, Gilbert , Norwood, Susan
Institution: Gonzaga University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 31, 2008 through July 31, 2009
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The goal of this project is to complete the first phase of a multi-year project to build an educational center and dormitory in Kitale, Kenya. The purpose of the center is to provide housing for regional students as they learn how to produce sustainable water filtering technology, bio-mass utilization, and alternate energy.
Approach:
This first phase is necessary to the success of the educational center by ensuring that current manufacturing processes for ceramic water filters, developed under other P3 programs, do not negatively impact the Kitale community. Under current proposal, a technology and resource availability assessment will be conducted. In addition a demonstration of some potential alternate energy technologies utilizing the results of the assessment will also be performed. A goal of this proposal is to find and alternate source of electrical power using only locally available materials. The quantity of electrical power must be sufficient to power the tooling needed to produce the hardware used in manufacturing water filters. These same power sources will be assessed to identify if local bio-mass fuel consumption can be reduced by using the newly available electrical power for individual family’s needs. The saved bio-mass could then be potentially available to power the kilns needed to fire the ceramic water filters. Thus, the adoption of fired clay water filters, used to remove pathogens from the local water supply, will not negatively impact the local people by reducing the fuels needed for residential needs. The team will focus on a creating a total energy balance within the community, thus laying the groundwork for constructing the dormitory and educational facility.
Expected Results:
Once Phase I has been completed, the total cost of implementing an educational facility in Kenya, based on the model of the Songhai Center in Benin will be better understood. Phase II’s goal, which is not part of this project, will be to build and staff this new center and dormitory. This new center will provide housing for the regional people to come and learn about sustainable water filter technologies and sustainable alternate energy designs.
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Sustainable Environment, Energy, Environmental Chemistry, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, sustainable development, environmental sustainability, alternative materials, biomass, alternative fuel, biodiesel fuel, energy efficiency, energy technology, alternative energy sourceProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.