[GBlist] Afgreenistan

[Thomas M Hughes-Lampros <tlampros@UDel.Edu>]

Greetings,

The front page of the local (Gannett) newspaper recently carried a picture
of two children digging in the Afghanistan desert for roots to use for
cooking.  Ignoring the energy content of the roots for the moment, I
couldn't help but notice what a sunny day it was in the picture.  It
occured to me that, if what people need is heat for cooking, look to an
available and easily convertible source: the Sun.  The effort expended in
periodically rotating a solar box cooker to keep it pointed at the sun
would be far less, and far more sustainable, than digging in the dirt for
roots.

Furthermore, if what people need is space heat, again look to the sun.  A
simple transpired solar collector could provide the heat necessary for a
small hut, provided of course, that the hut was protected from the winter
winds.

Personally, I would like to see relief efforts provide "the pole" rather
than "the fish."

Peace,
Tom Hughes-Lampros			tlampros@udel.edu
Institute of Energy Conversion		tel: 302.831.3523
University of Delaware			fax: 302.831.6226
Wyoming Rd.
Newark, DE 19716

When we turn our face to the sun,
we feel the power to heal the earth.

"First they ignore you
   Then they laugh at you
        Then they fight you
                Then you win"

                     -Gandhi

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Power concedes nothing without a demand." -- Frederick Douglas

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." -Edward Abbey

Work is love made visible.  And if you cannot work with love but only with
distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate
of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
  -- Kahlil Gibran




______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________