Alternative Energies

Introduction

Haller’s alternative energies programme works to relieve fuel poverty and the dependence on firewood and kerosene. Our principal aim is to expose the harmful consequences of non-renewable resources on the environment and their damaging effects on health, and then to provide alternatives which are healthier and more sustainable.  We show people how to turn every day objects into biogas digesters and solar generators thus reducing deforestation and relieving the pressure on the surrounding land. In turn, this produces a number of social and economic benefits that can help communities to break from the cycle of poverty.

Biogas

Haller’s unique biogas programme offers a healthier and a more economical alternative to traditional fuel sources that are responsible for deforestation and land degradation. The price of firewood and coal has sharply risen in recent years as they become increasingly scarce.  The resultant soil erosion has made it difficult for families to feed themselves from their own land.

Haller shows communities how to build simple biogas digesters, which are fed with refuse material from farms. They produce so much low cost, clean energy that community members can sell their surplus. The waste sludge is rich with nutrients and is reapplied to farmland. 

Haller helps to install three separate biogas systems. These are all fed with organic waste m atter produced by our other initiatives; excess nile cabbage from our community dams, trees and shrubbery that are not in competition with human consumption, and agricultural waste produced by farming.  Our community-based puxin digestor serves as a model from which we can draw upon to help local inhabitants to install smaller household systems made from polythene sheets or recycled oil drums.

Although providing biogas alone will bring great benefits, by training the community to integrate the system with our other Haller projects, we have seen that the multiplier effect is truly transformational.

Solar

Solar technology installed at community centres provides energy that can be used directly by the community and also becomes a source to generate income by charging batteries for torches and mobile phones.

Tree Planting

Once people are less reliant on wood for fuel, Haller can set about reforesting the barren landscape. Through our land rehabilitation lessons, people learn the importance of growing trees and vegetation in order to minimise soil erosion. We show them how to grow saplings in their very own tree nursery, and then where to plant them so that they are most effective. We encourage them to grow useful species of trees which are a source of medicine, food and income. 

Environmental Responsibility

Haller’s alternative energies programme helps us to achieve food and water security though sound ecological processes.  It is a critical part of our plan to create thriving ecosystems that will secure food supplies and access to safe water in practical, energy efficient and replicable ways.  Since we take our responsibilities seriously, we never commit to any ecological development programmes until we are 100% sure the community can maintain these projects as a way of life in the future.  This means we provide on-going support and only exit a community when we are confident they can stand on their own feet and claim an individual sense of ownership over the projects.

How our energy programme interacts with our other projects: