Project Lighthouse, Inc. - Renewable Energy Program

In the beginning paragraph of an open letter in The New Yorker magazine (August 1, 2005, front inside), David J. O'Reilly, Chevron Corporation's Chairman & CEO, noted:

“Energy will be the defining issue of this century. One thing is clear: the era of easy oil is over. What we all do next will determine how well we meet the energy needs of the entire world in this century and beyond.”

Project Lighthouse's decision to begin a Renewable Energy Program came in response to what we perceived to be the energy crisis in rural El Salvador. In many parts of El Salvador, families illuminate their homes at night with diesel or kerosene lamps and candles. Households that cannot afford to purchase increasingly expensive energy commodities often resort to burning pieces of sap-covered pine in order to light their dwellings at night. By and far, the most common cooking fuel is El Salvador is firewood. There are numerous far-reaching health, social, and environmental implications that are associated with the use of the above-mentioned traditional non-renewable energy resources. Consumption of wood has resulted in a 96% deforestation of El Salvador, prompting the government to embark upon a reforestation program.
[Vegetation and Land Use Map/Popup Window or View as webpage]

Renewable energy technologies, on the other hand, offer efficient, clean, and safe alternatives to traditional energy sources. The use of solar energy - the energy in the sun's light can be turned into electricity and heat, is one prime, leading technology that continues to undergo enhancement and wider use.
[Read About Solar Power & Photovolatics/Popup Window or View as webpage]

In addition, renewable energy sources include the wind, geothermal energy from inside the earth, biomass from plants, and harnassing hydropower (energy from water).

The use of renewable energy technologies in El Salvador will contribute to healthier and safer rural homes as well as an improved environment. Development and installation of efficient wood-burning stoves in rural homes will reduce consumption of wood, saving tens of thousands of trees every year, and foster reforesting of the country.

In the area of solar power and the use of photovoltaics, we consulted with internationally-recognized solar power experts and companies specializing in solar power technologies. Our principal consultant, Sajed Kamal, world-renowned professor at Brandeis University, worked closely with Project Lighthouse staff to coordinate the local manufacturing and installation of solar power array panels in El Salvador. The program expanded to include installation of turbococinas. A turbococcina is a "turbo stove", an award-winning efficient wood-burning stove designed and invented by Réne Núñez.

Putting the finishing touches on the rocket stoves factory.

However, due to production issues and cost, we recently shifted the focus of our efficient wood-burning aspect of the program to rocket stove technology. Project Lighthouse, has partnered with Dr. Larry Winerski, Technical Director, Aprovecho Research Center, Cottage Grove, Oregon, inventor of the rocket stove technology. Our efforts have resulted in obtaining initial investment funding, construction of a rocket stove factory, and training for building and installing 120 rocket stoves in the next 12 months. Donations are needed to aid individuals and families to purchase the stoves and provide for ongoing maintenance over the stoves' useful life.

In July 2005, we completed installation of two "seed site" solar photovoltaic systems for lighting of premises. Installation of a solar power/photvolatic system was done in the home of Rodrigo Contreras, a brick maker-consumer advocate who lives with his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in the unelectrified areas around Tacuba, Ahuachapán, El Salvador. In addition, a turbococina was installed in Rodrigo’s home, making it a combined solar-turbococina system.

Sajed Kamal educating on solar power in El Salvador.

Approximately 100 curious community members came to watch and participate on the day of installation, which was without precedent in Tacuba. Within the month after the installation of this "seed site" nearly 120 families inquired and showed interest in purchasing a photovoltaic solar system with which to light their homes, and interest in having obtaining efficient wood-burning stoves. A second solar photovoltaic system was installed at our office, then located in Sonsonate.

Following are photos (22 for viewing) from the installation in July 2005.

In September 2005, our Renewable Energy Program received the generous donation of twenty photovolatic lighting systems by Global Resource Options, Inc., of Vermont, for use in health clinics in El Salvador. We also benefitted from its generosity through the purchase of many more systems at very significantly reduced cost. You may contact Global Resource Options at 1-800-374-4494 or go to their wesbite by clicking on their logo or Global Resource Options website (opens in new browser window, close window to return here.)