Solar villages in Argentina
June 29, 2010
Energy form: Solar energy
Project goal: Preventing deforestation and improving quality of living
Project size: solar thermal systems for eight villages including 350 solar cookers, 81 warm water systems, 10 central heating systems for schools
Carbon savings: currently around 1,100 tons each year in eight villages
Investment: 466,000 Euros ($576,000) in the last seven years
Each year, thousands of tons of trees and shrubs are burned in the ovens and cooking fires of the inhabitants of the Puna highland desert plateau in northwestern Argentina. The country's EcoAndina environmental group has been trying for years to slow the rate of deforestation by pushing solar systems. Today, several hundred families cook with the power of the sun and bakeries and baths in the villages are powered with solar energy. In addition, several schools have been equipped with simple but efficient solar heating systems.
A film by Juergen Schneider