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April 16, 2008 |
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Sustainable Energy |
 Many of us who move to Southern Costa Rica and are planning to build on our piece of paradise are faced with decisions about how to build responsibly. Standard concrete construction has become expensive in recent years and prices to build with concrete are approaching $100 sq. ft. Also concrete and steel rebar contribute to non-sustainable manufacturing & delivery practices. There are many sustainable ways to live in paradise and this newsletter is dedicated to cleaner ways of living! Solar power is one of the most reliable and quickest ways to free you from low-quality utility service and high electricity bills. Solar (photovoltaic) energy delivers water, powers tools, lights your home and refrigerates your food. With climate change at our door step and the rising cost of dependable energy, it makes sense to look into alternative energy solutions. Going "Green" is a commitment of time, energy and resources and most successful sustainable systems use various methods to create power, heat or cooling.
Some examples of sustainability include composting toilets, biodigester and humanure composting systems. Many systems create methane & bio gas that can be used for cooking, heating your water and running your back up generator off of your excrement and bodily waste. Take a poop and bake some bread! There are a few bio gas systems operating on the Osa, and with rising cost of fuel and propane, it makes sense to make your own gas ! You might need a pig or two but biodigesters and bio gas are viable low cost systems to get up and running. Also available are air cooled low voltage cooling systems and hybrid A/C systems that run on sustainable energy sources. There are also opportunities to build with local recycled products.
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Free Energy in Costa Rica! |
 What is a "Grid Tie" electrical system? In layman's terms it's exactly that. You tie your current alternative energy system to the grid, selling your extra solar / hydro generated electricity back to the electric company (ICE), substantially reducing and possibly eliminating your monthly electric bill. The Osa Peninsula and all of Costa Rica is currently set up for Grid Tie systems. Inti Tech Solar Energy Systems www.intitechsolar.com here in Puerto Jimenez provides you with a way to produce energy for your home and your community and possibly eliminate your monthly utility bills. You may want to consider the advantage of installing or updating your current solar system and sell back your unused power during the day for the same price that you buy it from them at night. In other words, you pay nothing for your energy consumption and at the same time produce clean, renewable energy, virtually free of CO2 emissions. Inti Tech will guide you through an accurate assessment of your current energy consumption and inform you of ways to save energy and the cost associated with the installation. Thomas and Rafael have installed, maintained and serviced the needs of 100's of homeowners all over Costa Rica, and especially in Southern Costa Rica. On Earthday April 20th - Intitech will be conducting a presentation in the morning about the benefits of solar, hydro and grid tie systems for various applications including alternative energy for education in remote areas. Contact Rafael or Thomas for more information info@intitechsolar.com (506) 2735-5521 and we'll see you at Earthday!
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Sustainable Building Materials On The Osa |
Right here in our own backyard, we have huge Teak (Teca) & Melina (Paper Trees) plantations. Both types of wood are renewable and sustainable, resist bugs, moisture and are a great alternative to stripping the forest of precious hardwood trees. Teak and Melina are reasonably priced as well and can be milled to your specific dimension. Teak can also be cut and/or laminated into 20'- 40' beams and joists – eliminating excessive posts and obstructions in your living areas, therefore reducing your construction costs and adding an element of beauty to your home. For more information about renewable Teak, availability and costs, contact Steve Mulder in Amapolastevmul@gmail.com (506)8368-5648 If you are fortunate to have permitted downed and felled trees on your property, Steve can drive his mill right to your back door and do all the milling on your property reducing sawdust waste by 80%! Choosing your products for your home is only a first step. Designing your home to fit into your environment and to take advantage of the natural resources available such as water, breeze & shade is extremely important. Some basic rules for building in the tropics include, avoiding the hot afternoon sun, capturing 100% of the breeze, staying out of the rain and using the natural light. With a well thought out design, you can build a comfortable and sustainable dream home. I am a local jungle architect here on the Osa and to learn more about building comfortable sustainable homes and cabinas contact me at osamike@gmail.com or call Michael H. Cranford (CR)506-8378-3013, or visit www.michaelincostarica.com
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Bamboo Will Save The World ! |
 Some say that Bamboo is the only renewable construction resource that is capable of keeping up with the current world population explosion. Sooner or later we will run out of trees, then what? Here on the Osa there are several varieties of bamboo that are available for construction purposes. Our local yellow, green variety and a new Columbian variety called Guadua. "Guadua Angustifolia Kunth", is the strongest bamboo in the world and also one of the most bug resistant species of bamboo available and it's growing in our backyard here on the Osa. Steve Jurries began importing Guadua several years ago, for the purposes of selling it as an alternative construction material, and he sells his bamboo in a variety of sizes and lengths. His Bamboo is cut, cured and ready to go. For information, prices, delivery and availability contact Steve Jurries quindiosteve@gmail.com (CR) 506-8390-1002. For more information about Guadua Bamboo - www.guaduabamboocostarica.com
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Illegal Developments on The Osa Stopped! |
 An illegal development project near Mogos called Yacamar, has been stopped by an order of the highest environmental court, the Tribunal Ambiental. This order was given on February 19, at virtually the same time as the Laguna Sierpe project was stopped. The prosecutor is currently evaluating the damages done and will determine the measures necessary to mitigate this disaster. The environmental damage is already done, and we know the battle is not over. However, after recent conversations and meetings with interested parties, we are confident that actions are being set in place to address the bigger problems that have resulted in this pervasive climate of illegal developments. Unfortunately, laws have not kept up with the tactics of the developers and governmental agencies are short handed and have limited resources to fight such battles. Here is an example of a developer in the Uvita area that rapes and pillages both the culture and the land. www.ventanasdelpacifico.biz These developers and dozens of others just like them have their eyes and money on the the southern zone, and are heading our way. They have plenty of money to line the pockets of the government. To learn more about how you can help and /or donate to the cause, contact Terry Peterson at terrixp@gmail.com To learn more about Osa Conservation and The Osa campaign surf the following websites www.cr-usa.org , www.conservation.org , as well as www.golfitotravel.com
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Have a Great Earthday ! |
If you are living in Southern Costa Rica and know of illegal developments, logging, road building, poaching and hunting activities, please send us your articles and contact information for consideration for posting your story here on our Southern Cos
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