Solar Energy Is A Must For The Sub-Saharan African Continent

Edward Ojedo Solar Energy 0 Comment
Solar Energy Is A Must For The Sub-Saharan African Continent

Approximately half of the sub-Saharan African continent today does not have access to power. People who do have power pay on average almost two times as much as customers everywhere in the world. Power shortages cost the continent around 2 to 4% of GDP annually. And the large electricity needs will only increase.

Given that the people in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to grow from 1 billion in 2018 to over two billion in 2050, the electricity demand is projected to expand 3 percent annually. This takes into consideration a continuous increase in access to power in addition to greater energy efficiency.

Meeting that demand with present energy sources would have severe consequences for health and the environment. The current energy mix in Africa relies mostly on burning oil, coal, and traditional biomass (charcoal, wood, dry dung fuel).… Read the rest

Sustainable Development Being Mainstreamed In Africa

Edward Ojedo Sustainable Living 0 Comment
Sustainable Development Being Mainstreamed In Africa

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Science Report shows that lots of African nations haven’t waited for the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals to start on a more sustainable growth path. Lots of the long-term planning vision’ records to 2020 or 2030 embraced by African countries over recent years have identified sustainable development as being a pillar of the national development plan, along with much more inclusive growth and improved governance.

Regional economic communities are also aware that developing an African Economic Community will have to go hand in hand with higher integration and sustainable growth. As an example, the Vision 2020 document adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2011 aspires to make a borderless, prosperous and cohesive place built on good governance, where individuals can access and harness its enormous resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable growth. … Read the rest

Green Projects Bring Education, Employment, And Environmental Change

Edward Ojedo Organizations 0 Comment
Green Projects Bring Education, Employment, And Environmental Change

GEN Africa

The environmental organization, GEN Africa, is an African ecovillage system, promoting environmental pro­tection, social resilience, and restoration of nature by the concept of ecovillages as foundations for sustainable human establishments. Their goal is to actively help the de­vel­opment of ecovillages and networks in all parts of Africa.

GEN Africa is a membership organization born in 2012 in Sekem Ecovillage, Egypt, with registered non-profit status in Senegal, Sekem Ecovillage, and a solid founding bond with GEN Europe. GEN Africa is directed by a council of 5 members chosen in December 2012 in Egypt, along with 3 coordinators of the youth network NextGEN and a five-member Advisory Council.

GEN Africa makes part of GEN International, an NGO with consultative status in the UN-Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) commission, and a companion of United Nations Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR.… Read the rest

We All Need To Do Our Part To Save Water

Edward Ojedo Water Conservation , 0 Comment
We All Need To Do Our Part To Save Water

Why Should We Save Water?

We need water to live, and our growing population places stress on our natural resources, particularly water. Everyone has a part to play in assuring that our water is sustainable for future generations. A big volume of fresh water is used to water farmland for food production.

It is essential for manufacturing, mainly in heavy industries such as electricity generation and steel and iron manufacturing, which need considerable amounts of water as a power supply, or for cooling. A reliable source of water is crucial for all households too.

Conserving water can also save energy. To pump the water in your house from a central facility, office, or garden, power is required to run the pumps. Thus saving water means using less energy that reduces your annual water bill, but also your carbon footprint.… Read the rest

Blue Power Energy Africa’s Largest Solar Farm Project

Edward Ojedo Solar Energy , 0 Comment
Blue Power Energy Africa’s Largest Solar Farm Project

For over a decade, one 48-year-old businessperson in Ghana has been peacefully developing a multimillion-dollar oil and gas outfit named UBI Group. Salma Okonkwo is a woman to head an energy business in Africa. “I don’t stop when the door is being shut. I find a way to make it work,” Okonkwo told Forbes. “That’s what propelled my success.”

She expands her reach throughout the energy sector of Ghana, Working on an independent solar farm side project that may become the largest in her career. Ghana’s largest solar farm is being built by Okonkwo, known as Blue Power Energy, slated to start in March 2019 with 100 megawatts of Energy. It is set to be among the largest in Africa.

“Most of the multinational companies that come to Ghana don’t put in infrastructure.… Read the rest

How Cape Town Has Avoided The Dreaded Day Zero

Piet V. Water Conservation , 0 Comment
How Cape Town Has Avoided The Dreaded Day Zero

The most feared Day Zero made headlines during the more significant part of 2018 in Cape Town due to various reasons. On this day, it was anticipated that all water tapes would run dry due to persistent drought in the Western Cape region. Despite being a coastal city, there were fears that Cape Town would face severe clean water shortages never experienced before.

However, the dreaded Day Zero did not happen as expected, but the water crisis is not yet over. The water levels of all inland dams that supply fresh water to Cape Town residents remain critically low. The good thing is that water challenges are now manageable as various stakeholders have come up with different measures to avert the problem.

People from different parts of the globe can draw many lessons about how to save water from the Cape Town catastrophe.… Read the rest

New Homes in Africa are Adopting Energy Efficient Design Elements

Piet V. Sustainable Living , , 0 Comment
New Homes in Africa are Adopting Energy Efficient Design Elements

There is no doubt that Africa’s real estate sector is still young and underdeveloped. Currently, all indications are that the real estate sector in Africa is growing fast. According to analysts, this is due to the growing population levels in Africa as well as a rising middle class. For example, the continent’s current population of over 1 billion people is expected to double within 40 years. Some reports also project that by 2030, the population in African cities and urban areas will increase by 300 million people.

Indeed, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the global building industry accounts for 30% of annual carbon emissions. The carbon emission highlights the growing need for green and sustainable practices within the real estate sector. Luckily, one energy-efficient design element that is quickly growing in popularity and that is the modern electric fireplace inserts.… Read the rest

2018 African Energy Indaba Conference

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2018 African Energy Indaba Conference

This past February saw the annual meeting of the African Energy Indaba Conference. The 2018 event took place at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa. The lead hosts this year were the South African National Energy Association. This was a fitting leader for the energy conference designed to bring together the best of national energy leaders. It was also co-hosted by the World Energy Council, SANEA, and NEPAD.

This conference is an annual review of current trends and the state of the industry across the continent. It is a chance to bring key players together under one roof to debate ideas, new policies, and alternative approaches. In addition to the talks at the conference, there is always a range of exhibitors with key products. Here African green organizations can improve their options and tech with new ideas.… Read the rest

Green Technology In Africa

Edward Ojedo Solar Energy , , , 0 Comment
Green Technology In Africa

Renewable Energy In Africa

Africa is without a doubt the continent with the largest number of developing countries with large poverty levels. Technological innovation, however, is the key to improving Africa’s state of development. This is the reason that certain good willed organizations such as Africa’s Movers and Shakers meet with the purpose of making Africa a better place to be live for generations to come.

Their most recent meeting held at the World Economic Forum in Kigali Rwanda, where the discussion entailed how the digital economy can propel the radical change the continent needs.

Despite the desperate need for the African continent to be digitized. If it is to compete with other first world countries in the future it is important to consider at what cost. By cost, the resources needed to develop the continent technologically is not the main concern but rather the cost to the environment.… Read the rest

See Who Is Helping Nigeria’s Women

Edward Ojedo Sustainable Living , 0 Comment
See Who Is Helping Nigeria’s Women

She Leads Africa Sustainable Living: A Rousing Platform For Young African Women

Women across Africa have been left behind for a long time as far as matters to do with entrepreneurship and development, in general, is concerned. It is the recognition of this gap that Yasmin Belo-Osagie in conjunction with her business partner, Afua Osei, founded She Lead Africa (SLA) back in 2014. The two young women armed with creative minds as well as a vast network developed over their travels around the earth decided to set the ball rolling from their humble beginnings in Lagos, Nigeria.

She Leads Africa provides a platform on which entrepreneurial ideas for young women. These ideas across Africa are shared, nurtured and even ultimately developed into thriving businesses. The organization followed the trials and tested business incubator model where the focus is on start-up companies run by women.… Read the rest

How to Properly Size an Off-Grid Home Solar System

Edward Ojedo Solar Energy , , 2 Comments
How to Properly Size an Off-Grid Home Solar System

With the increased need for sustainable and eco-friendly practices, it is no surprise that one of the biggest proponents of solar energy and other renewable forms of energy is the government. The government may offer benefits and incentives to encourage and motivate people to use off-grid home solar system power.

Homeowners and other property owners have two options when it comes to solar power; off-grid systems and on-grid solar power systems.

The off-grid home solar systems, also known as stand-alone solar power systems are not connected in any way to the grid. The solar system is responsible for catering to the electricity needs of the home/building. To buy one of these systems you need to make sure you get the proper size system and according to SolarGenerator.guide, you should calculate carefully.… Read the rest

Living Off The Grid And Reducing Carbon Footprint

Edward Ojedo Sustainable Living 0 Comment
Living Off The Grid And Reducing Carbon Footprint

Living Off-Grid

Time and tides wait for no man so goes the adage. Paul Chambers has made living on top of the Australian Bush with his wife Sarah a sustainable living project since their apartment is made of two shipping containers. He has done several developments from that time to spice up our lives!

Reason Of Making The Developments

We are not a couple who will move out of our relationship soon. We are industrious and believe the model of the current economy is not sustainable. We do interact with others in exchange of knowledge and experiences that teach us how to build a sustainable home.

It has been an uphill task since money, time and effort. It feels good having stepped out of the Ferris wheel and living more lightly.… Read the rest

Solar Power Transforming Sub-Saharan Africa

Edward Ojedo Solar Energy , , 0 Comment
Solar Power Transforming Sub-Saharan Africa

Solar Power

Necessity has always been known to be the inspiration for innovation. Hence, some people saw the need for having the largest computer that ran on solar power energy. Also, the computer would have the capabilities that would equal the capacities of a computer that can achieve the power of quantum-enabled gadgets. Also, the project initiates by the primary aim of assisting Africans who reside in the continent of Africa and specifically in the rural regions.

The computer that goes by the name Walty Funding was brought into existence courtesy of a Spanish-Italian start-up. The primary mission of the start-up was to provide clean water, electricity and also internet services that could be able to change the economy as well as the lives of economies across the African region that is rural.… Read the rest

African Farmers Find Solutions For Sustainable Agriculture

Edward Ojedo Sustainable Living, Water Conservation , 0 Comment
African Farmers Find Solutions For Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Living Solutions For Farmers

The concept of green revolution dates back to the early 1930s. When large-scale mechanization and adoption of technological innovations was embraced as a way to improve crop yields and overall agricultural efficiency. Among the important drivers of this movement include people like the geneticist Nazareno Strampelli and Norman Borlaug. Who has been recognized as the “father of the green revolution.”

Norman was eventually awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his extensive work. That reformed the irrigation techniques, farm management, distribution of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and other farm inputs that contribute to high yielding crops.… Read the rest

Use Earth-Friendly Sustainable Packaging When Shipping Products

Edward Ojedo Sustainable Living , 0 Comment
Use Earth-Friendly Sustainable Packaging When Shipping Products

In today’s world, products get shipped to our place of business or our home on a regular basis.  Have you ever thought about how these products are packaged?  What happens to the packaging when the item is received?  Are the packages reusable, recyclable, or sustainable packaging to protect our environment? Sustainable packaging is the way of the future.  

Consumers should prefer and demand corporations to be environmentally friendly.  The use of such materials is the way forward for companies wishing to enhance their brand image through active engagement in sustainable packaging practices.

The image below clearly describes items that are not recyclable and reasons why they are not.  Education is a big step towards becoming environmentally-friendly. One has to create the awareness before change can happen.… Read the rest