New Energy Efficient Refrigerator & Freezer
Olturoto Children’s Village was recently the recipient of new SunDanzerTM DC refrigerator and freezer purchased by Kickstart Kids International. These high efficiency refrigerators and freezers have exceptionally low energy consumption requiring smaller, less expensive power systems and low operating expense. The purchase of the refrigerator and freezer is in line with Kickstart Kids International environmental sustainability pillar which focuses on accessing technologies and approaches that ensure sustainable consumption of food, energy and water.
The new equipment which requires zero maintenance, with brushless, thermostatically controlled DC compressor operates on 12 or 24 VDC. A patented low-frost system reduces frost and moisture build-up for low maintenance. These chest-style refrigerators and freezers are easy to clean using the drain hole at the bottom of the unit.
With thick insulation and a refrigeration system optimized for solar, SunDanzer refrigerators and freezers provide outstanding economical and reliable operation. Low energy consumption is the key that allows SunDanzer refrigerators and freezers to be cost effectively powered from solar, wind, fuel cells or batteries. This technology allows refrigeration in remote locations where it was previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Congratulations to Oltutoro Children’s Village. We have fire!
In line with Kickstart Kids International’s environmental sustainability pillar, an energy saving Biogas solution was recently installed at Olturoto Children’s Village.
This first of its kind surface level Flexi Biogas system is an indigenous system designed and manufactured in Kenya. The system is fabricated from specially treated robust materials designed to withstand all weather conditions. The fabric is manufactured to last over ten years, and its lifespan is enhanced by applying a sunscreen UV block solution every seven years. The lifespan is further enhanced by housing the system in a Micro-greenhouse tunnel that not only shields the digester against the harmful effects of direct solar UV rays, but also enhances and maintain high temperatures that increase the fermentation process and hence delivering unmatched efficiency and performance. The tunnel also shields the system from farm animals and critters (such as children who believe the system is their personal bouncing castle!)
The system is very efficient because of two major things; one is that the digesters attain temperature similar to body temperatures by putting the digester under a micro-green house tunnel which acts a UV filter and heat capture by creating green house effect.
These temperatures are very conducive for anaerobic bacteria to multiply and break down the food substance faster than when at lower temperatures. The second factor is the cross flow design adopted. Cross flow design enables the system to eject out bio-slurry that has been completely broken down because what you feed in first will be the first to come out. There is no way fresh substrate with high food value will mix with older substrate which are fully broken down. That means that gas production and capture is at optimum, at more than 95%.
Due to the above stated facts, the system is so efficient such that even cow dung from a single cow is enough to meet the needs of a domestic family. In fact, a bucket of any biodegradable waste like kitchen waste, farm weeds, live fence trimmings, pig poop, chicken and rabbit droppings is enough to give you gas. The surplus gas can be used in running machinery like chaff cutter, gen-sets, chick brooding and fruit and vegetable drying. The end product of the process is rich in minerals and easily absorbed by plants thus extremely valuable for farming. The large volume of output bio-slurry is a mineral rich, seedbed ready organic fertiliser requiring no further processing or curing. This is an added invaluable asset to every farm ensuring food security in the country. 99% sterilized, the bio-slurry has no smell, and does not attract undesirable flies, maggots etc. The system has the capacity to produce up to 5 cubic metres of gas at optimum level. A normal household of between 5-8 users would requires approximately 1.5 cubic metres per day.
We can’t wait to taste the first yummy meal for the kids made using this wonderful system as we count down the days to the admission of the first group of 8 children at Olturoto Children’s Village!
