Go Green in Guanaja!
Denise Clarke
March 19, 2008
Guanaja Honduras is located in Central America just about forty miles from the mainland of Honduras. One of the Bay Islands, it is the least developed of the three main islands. Guanaja is pristine. There are no streets except for a narrow dirt road between two of the small villages. People move about by foot paths or boat. The footpaths meander about the island and it is not uncommon to see the various workers walking across your yard to get about the island to their jobs or to visit friends.
Guanaja is a unique Bay Island in the fact that it has its own fresh water supply. In fact, there are several fresh water waterfalls on the island and this, in addition to cisterns, is where the local population gets its drinking water. Bottled water, of course, is available, but most simply drank water right out of the tap. I was hesitant on my trip there to do so at first and then asked the long time Gringo´s, they confirmed it. Wonderful, pure, very soft and excellent tasting water is available everywhere!
For Electric, the island is serviced by BECO, the Bonacco Electric Company. While the whole island is not on the grid, the more populated areas are. In addition, most people find that a backup generator is a must for the times that the power is out, for whatever reason. The main problem with the electric company is the expense. BECO charges at least four times per kilowatt hour more than what we pay in the US, WOW, now that is a lot! Now, if you really think about it, what does Guanaja, that sunny tropical paradise, have a great deal of? Sunshine, of course! I have friends that have taken this concept a whole step further and they have installed fourteen solar panels, pointed toward old sol, of course, and have they hooked up to two fork lift batteries. These guys are a little expensive, but are guaranteed for twenty years. They run their whole house on this system! This includes fans, microwave oven, television, etc.
These same friends have a small wind generator also. They have had less success with it than the solar, but probably because the location does not have the constant breeze required to really make it efficient.
Another option would be to harness some of the water from one of the waterfalls and turn it into hydro electric power. This water could then be recirculated by a solar pump and then be used again and again. Once again, this would take some start up costs, but in the end would pay for itself in no time and then be cost free as well as good for the environment.
There are many options available if we truly want to expand our vision and do no harm to the pristine environment around us.
We have become spoiled by all the energy sources we have available to us in the United States, but is this energy consumption good for the environment? I, for one would like to go GREEN when I move to Guanaja and live in harmony with the environment.
Guanaja is a unique Bay Island in the fact that it has its own fresh water supply. In fact, there are several fresh water waterfalls on the island and this, in addition to cisterns, is where the local population gets its drinking water. Bottled water, of course, is available, but most simply drank water right out of the tap. I was hesitant on my trip there to do so at first and then asked the long time Gringo´s, they confirmed it. Wonderful, pure, very soft and excellent tasting water is available everywhere!
For Electric, the island is serviced by BECO, the Bonacco Electric Company. While the whole island is not on the grid, the more populated areas are. In addition, most people find that a backup generator is a must for the times that the power is out, for whatever reason. The main problem with the electric company is the expense. BECO charges at least four times per kilowatt hour more than what we pay in the US, WOW, now that is a lot! Now, if you really think about it, what does Guanaja, that sunny tropical paradise, have a great deal of? Sunshine, of course! I have friends that have taken this concept a whole step further and they have installed fourteen solar panels, pointed toward old sol, of course, and have they hooked up to two fork lift batteries. These guys are a little expensive, but are guaranteed for twenty years. They run their whole house on this system! This includes fans, microwave oven, television, etc.
These same friends have a small wind generator also. They have had less success with it than the solar, but probably because the location does not have the constant breeze required to really make it efficient.
Another option would be to harness some of the water from one of the waterfalls and turn it into hydro electric power. This water could then be recirculated by a solar pump and then be used again and again. Once again, this would take some start up costs, but in the end would pay for itself in no time and then be cost free as well as good for the environment.
There are many options available if we truly want to expand our vision and do no harm to the pristine environment around us.
We have become spoiled by all the energy sources we have available to us in the United States, but is this energy consumption good for the environment? I, for one would like to go GREEN when I move to Guanaja and live in harmony with the environment.
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