Going Green

Page 2 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Waiting on legislation, grid tie the BVIEC, Mr. Abraham said.

Maintenance work is currently carried out on a “dead network” and most BVIEC linesmen are not trained to do live line work, according to Mr. Abraham. However, his staff is preparing to start training for live line work through a standardised course provided by Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation.

Mr. Abraham added that there are many technical and safety issues that need to be addressed by the BVIEC and the consumer.

Mr. Bos said he understands why the BVIEC might be “standoffish” when it comes to grid tie, because the corporation has to manage any changes to the current system and make sure the grid can accept power.

“I think when they figure out how to administer it and how to technically accommodate these technologies, I think they will change direction,” Mr. Bos said.

He added that solar and wind energy systems are designed to shut off when the grid shuts down, alleviating any safety concerns for linesmen.

“All these technologies have to be designed to this standard, so they are safe for linesmen,” Mr. Bos said.

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com The Tortola company Alternative Energy Systems has several clients who are eager to install renewable energy equipment, but are waiting to see whether government will revise the BVI Electricity Corporation Act. “We have people who want to put solar on their roof, but they are just waiting for grid tie legislation to be passed,” said Jacco Bos, AES managing director. “There are quite a few projects people want to do, but they are just waiting for the legislation to pass so that they don’t get any hassle.”

Last year, the non-profit organisation Green VI and Mr. Bos asked the law firm Harneys to draft new regulations that would allow residents and businesses to install renewable energy systems as their primary source of power.

Harneys complied, proposing changes to the BVI Electricity Corporation Act that would also permit a grid tie system that would allow residents to sell extra energy to the BVI Electricity Corporation.

Under the revised regulations, permission to install the systems would be granted by government on a case-by-case basis.

“The minister would still have ultimate authority and control over what happens,” said Susanna Henighan Potter, head of marketing for Harneys.

Ms. Henighan Potter added that the regulations — which were drafted pro bono by Colin Reigels, Yohan Henry and Richard Peters — are designed to be low risk and easy to put into effect.

“It is a baby step that can be taken relatively quickly because it is a regulation that can be approved with Cabinet and the relevant minister,” Ms. Henighan Potter said. “It wouldn’t necessarily have to go to House of Assembly. It is not a piece of legislation like that. It is a regulation that is published in the Gazette.”

Petition When the draft was completed in February, Green VI Executive Director Charlotte McDevitt took it to government along with a petition with more than 1,500 signatures.

Ms. McDevitt recently received some positive feedback from Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, she said.

“I went to go see the premier about this and he said, ‘You can stop with your petition; we are changing it,’” she said.

This month during the Speech from the Throne, Governor Boyd McCleary said the Ministry of Communications and Works will be working closely with the BVIEC to update the BVI Electricity Corporation Act. The update “will allow for changes such as interconnecting renewable energy alternatives onto the grid,” he said.

In late July, BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham said he was working with government when it comes to changes in energy policies.

“Whatever legislation that is going to be put in place by government, I think it is going to be hand in hand with regards to what the BVIEC wants to see,” Mr. Abraham said.

He added that consumers should not be scared of investing in alternative energy under the current legislation. Alternative energy users are not a threat to the BVIEC, because it is rare for Tortola residents to go completely off the grid unless their energy is consumption is very low, he added.

“These systems are very expensive,” Mr. Abraham said. “For

Energy policy

A proposed amendment to the BVI Electricity Corporation Act is still in the hands of legislators. The full drafted regulation can be viewed at www.bvibeacon.com. a typical home, the average power that it utilises, … you would need quite an extensive system. You probably could get one, but the cost might be prohibitive for the average person to say, ‘BVIEC, we don’t need your connection anymore; remove it from my house; I am going totally green.’”

According to the BVIEC general manager, most systems that are in place are legal under the existing regulations and complement the power the BVIEC

provides. Some people think the BVIEC is resisting alternative energy, but this is “untrue,” Mr. Abraham said. Rather, he added, the corporation promotes it.

Grid tie However, one of the concerns he frequently hears is that consumers don’t want to invest in an alternative energy system because it is not cost effective for them if the energy they produce cannot be fed back into the grid. But grid tie systems raise safety concerns for

He added that government should facilitate a legislative environment and energy policy that requires the BVIEC to collaborate with renewable energy projects — a task he said shouldn’t be difficult since the utility company is government owned.

Mr. Bos would like to see grid tie in the VI within the next two years.

“Grid tie is becoming the norm around the world because it is sustainable,” he said. “And the BVI is a little behind, but we would like to see that changed.”

Ms. Henighan Potter said residents who are trying to set up an alternative energy system want to know that legislation is in place that fosters their plans.

“We did the [regulations] because we thought it was a good idea and because we wanted to raise awareness about the issue,” Ms. Henighan Potter said. “We wanted to demonstrate there is an interest in the community from businesses, from NGOs, from everyday citizens.”

Advertisement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 3

Going Green for Gorda • We support Julie Swartz and Going Green on Gorda by recycling our glass waste.

• We used recycled glass in our form work and countertops and glass sand aggregate in our finishing construction.

• We use a Vivreau Pure Water filtration and bottling program to serve our house water and eliminate plastic and glass consumption • We use 12 volt high-efficiency LED lighting.

• Our To-Go containers are Eco Conscious - Certified BPA and CFC Free reusable and fully recyclable.

• We donate cooking oil and grease for biodiesel to a local farmer.

• There are more than 50 fruit trees on our property.

• We support local animal composting with some of our organic waste.

• We collect rain water and use a cistern when possible.

• We support local fisherman and VG farmers.

• We have our own herb garden.

• We are looking forward to using solar energy for hot water heating in 2013.

Page 4 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Chair-ity event set for tomorrow

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com

T

omorrow Nutmeg Designs will host its second annual Chair-ity Exhibit and Auction at Government House.

Participants in the fundraiser create chairs from recycled, repurposed or reclaimed materials.

The chairs are then auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Green VI. “I like the play on words — ‘chair-ity’ for ‘charity’ — and since Nutmeg Designs is first and foremost sustainable furnishings and gifts, it fits right into our philosophy and slogan: doing good through our goods,” organiser Annie MacPhail said.

The event is open to the public. There are two categories: making a chair from scratch or modifying a chair with recycled materials.

The chairs will be on display at

Sayula Hirst's “Surf Rack” chair.

Last year St. Mary's School on Virgin Gorda made a chair from debris found on the beach.

Ms. Hirst’s “Washing Machine Drum Ottoman" won first prize in the adult category during last year's event.

Chair see page 17

BVI: WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

We are BVI not-for profit endeavouring to promote nature and heritage conservation. In addition to leading hands-on environmental education for local youth, we support research, monitoring and management activities that help to protect native ecosystems for the benefit of all present and future resource-users of the British Virgin Islands.

Learn more about us: Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke Telephone: 284.540.0861 www.jvdps.org Follow us: www.facebook.com/JVDPS U.S. Taxpayers: Inquire about U.S. tax-deductible contributions through our U.S. 501c3

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 5

BVIEC plans to ‘diversify’

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com When the BVI Electricity Corporation updated its 10-year development plan in 2003, officials wanted to start exploring alternative energy options. But an unreliable supply of energy from problematic Rolls Royce generators kept them busy in the succeeding years, said BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham.

“At that point, our primary objective was to stabilise and make the system a lot more reliable,” Mr. Abraham said. “I think we have achieved that and the system is a lot more reliable now than it was 10 years ago.”

Now, the BVIEC is looking ahead to the next decade and considering how renewable energy can play a role in the territory’s future, according to the general manager.

The corporation’s development plan will expire next year. In drafting a new one, the BVIEC has been speaking to the private and public sectors to gauge how much power will be needed in the coming years.

“We put it into a plan and what that does is essentially forecast how our load is going to grow over that 10-year timeframe,” Mr. Abraham said.

Several factors are taken into consideration in developing three scenarios: base, low and high. This gives officials a roadmap for future changes, investments and upgrades to infrastructure, according to the general manager.

During the first half of the past decade the load growth followed the high-case scenario, but during the last three years there has been a “slight reduction” by about one megawatt in the territory’s maximum demand, Mr. Abraham said.

As BVIEC officials draft the next 10-year plan, they will consider factors like the airport expansion, the new hospital, the cruise ship pier expansion and private developments such as Scrub Island, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Oil Nut Bay, the general manager explained.

Solar, wind In the previous plan, renewable energy was a consideration.

Consultants were asked what type

Photo: GIS The BVI Electricity Corporation signed a two-year contract with Delta Petroleum Caribbean Limited for the supply of diesel fuel and gasoline on Aug. 31 for more than $76 million. The high cost of fuel has BVIEC officials considering alternative energy options. of renewable energy would best suit the territory, and they said solar and wind are the best options, he said.

Solar energy has its drawbacks, though, because a large amount of land is needed to set up a solar farm to produce a substantial amount of energy, Mr. Abraham said.

“Wind came out to be the most viable option,” he said.

Jacco Bos, managing director of Alternative Energy Systems, said the territory has “great resources,” like wind and solar. He added that when he sends data to wind companies they get “excited.”

“We have strong, consistent winds every day,” he said.

Mr. Bos referred to a wind farm in Ontario, Canada, that produces energy at 11 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In the VI, residents pay about 40 cents per kilowatt hour.

“Wind is very competitive compared to diesel production,” Mr. Bos said.

Another benefit of wind energy is that it can produce energy around the clock, unlike solar.

Challenges Wind turbines would most likely be installed on land, but no “extensive” research has been conducted by the BVIEC to determine any optimal locations, Mr. Abraham said.

Producing energy through a

wind farm is not the BVIEC’s “core competency,” the general manager added.

Instead, he envisions an independent power producer who would sell the energy back to the corporation to be resold to consumers. Finding the right location is key, so that enough power can be produced to financially benefit both the BVIEC and the independent power producer.

Mr. Abraham was unable to give an exact date when the territory would start to diversify its energy production, but he said change is on its way.

“In three to four years you might not see a wind turbine, but would see changes in legislation. They would see that we have engaged consultants to perform a study or engaged others to explore renewable energy on our system,” Mr. Abraham said. “They will definitely see that strides are being made.”

Another way BVIEC officials are looking at producing energy is through waste incineration. But due to the available technology and the amount of trash produced here the energy produced using this method would be limited, Mr. Abraham said.

“This isn’t something that we have just started to look at. We have always been looking at ways of diversifying our means of energy production,” he said. “It is just going forward now and looking at

all the various elements in terms of what is taking place globally.

Something will have to be done.”

The territory’s peak demand is estimated to be 31 megawatts, which is usually experienced during the months of June and July — often among the hottest periods of the year. In 2010, it was at 32 megawatts. The grid’s current maximum capacity is 44 megawatts.

The volume of power required by the territory changes hourly, and the corresponding volume of fuel changes hourly as well, according to Mr. Abraham. During the past two years, the BVIEC spent almost $64 million for 12 to 13 million gallons of petroleum needed to operate the Pockwood Pond, Long Bush and Anegada power stations.

USVI efforts When it comes to conservation efforts, Mr. Bos thinks the territory should look to the United States VI, which has announced plans to reduce its oil consumption by 60 percent by 2025.

“The BVI and USVI are not that different in terms of how we operate and our dependency on oil,” Mr. Bos said. “I think it would be very easy to take an existing model like the USVI’s plan and adapt it to the BVI.” Reportedly, the USVI has approved 18 megawatts of solar en-

ergy to be fed back into the grid.

The US territory’s peak load is about 80 megawatts, according to Mr. Bos. “The BVI could be doing the same thing,” he said.

He added that the fuel surcharge in the VI alone is about 20 cents for a kilowatt hour.

But attitudes are changing among consumers and policymakers, Mr. Bos said. He hopes that consumers soon will be allowed to make investments in renewable energy systems and feed power back into the grid. He sees this as a way of bringing down prices of power without costing the BVIEC any money.

“It is going to help reduce wear and tear on the generators,” Mr. Bos said.

Mr. Abraham agrees that energy conservation is a “win-win” situation, because it lowers bills for consumers and saves money in upgrading infrastructure.

Although using less energy means less revenue for the BVIEC, it also translates to less operational costs and maintenance, according to Mr. Abraham.

“It is nothing that the utility is fighting against,” Mr. Abraham said. “We are the ones out promoting and preaching conservation. …

We are not just in the business of just producing money; we are in the business of producing energy as efficiently as possible.”

Page 6 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Resorts leading the way with going green

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Samantha Baker and Andy Murrant have been the general managers of Cooper Island Beach Club resort for about four years.

In that time, the couple has implemented renewable energy systems that now produce 75 percent of the resort’s power.

And they hope it will be fully self-sustaining by 2014.

In the Virgin Islands, resorts like Cooper Island have taken a lead when it comes to largescale renewable energy systems.

In many cases, the resorts’ isolated locations have helped spur the trend. Additionally, resorts are finding that going green is good business.

Cooper Island Beach Club has installed 90 solar panels and a reverse osmosis system. There are also plans to install 50 percent more solar panels in October and later add a wind turbine if it proves “economically viable,” according to Ms. Baker.

To date, the resort’s solar panels have produced more then 150,000 kilowatt hours of energy, according to Jacco Bos, managing director of Alternative Energy Systems, which installed the panels.

The resort also has planted a garden and switched from using plastics to “eco-products,” according to Ms. Baker.

“It is kind of our thing, wherever we are in the world,” she said. “We try to make the place we work more environmentally friendly.”

Other resorts Peter Island Resort also has an herb garden, which supplies its kitchen with produce. Guests not only appreciate the herbs at the table, but they take tours of the garden.

“They like to see where their food comes from,” General Manager Wilbert Mason said.

In the future, he hopes to start a weekly farm-to-the-table event that will feature local foods and chefs from the territory.

Such added “green” features can help resorts attract more visitors.

Despite the lack of some creature comforts like television and air conditioning in rooms at Cooper Island, Ms. Murrant said many guests say they saw the

GREEN GLOBE CERTIFIED

Photo: PROVIDED Cooper Island Beach Club has installed 90 solar panels and has plans to install more in its efforts to become self-sufficient. website and wanted to visit because of its green initiatives.

“It is a nice way of targeting the right type of people and doing something for the planet at the same time,” Ms. Baker said.

Mr. Mason said Peter Island resort started a Green and Clean programme about two months ago. The programme encourages the resort’s staff to take part in activities like cleaning beaches or tending the herb garden.

During the most recent event, more than 30 staff members and their families cleaned up a beach on the island.

The general manager said there are a lot of things resort personnel still need to do when it comes to being more eco-friendly, but they are taking “all the right steps.” He added that training the staff to be aware of ways to reduce energy and conserve water are small ways the resort is trying to make a difference.

“We are training the staff not only to save the company money, but to save the environment,” Mr. Mason said.

Currently the resort is at work on some renovation projects and the “environment is a consideration,” the general manager said.

There are plans to install solar hot water heaters and choose more energy efficient appliances.

“We are doing anything that gives us a better carbon footprint,”

Mr. Mason said.

Aside from the awareness programme, Peter Island has also made major investments in alternative energy systems that make use of solar and wind energy.

Although the resort’s solar panels are on a “small scale,” its two wind turbines can produce as much as 500 kilowatts, said Chris Potgieter, the resort’s director of island engineering. The resort’s peak load is about 850 kilowatt hours, he added.

Peter and Cooper islands are not the only resorts making green efforts. Other developments like Oil Nut Bay and Mosquito Island are starting from the ground up with plans to use alternative energy.

Tourist study In February, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith cited a 2002 study that found 84 percent of tourists would prefer a hotel with “green accreditation” and 68 percent would pay more to stay there.

“It was easier to start because we are off the grid,” Ms. Baker said. “Since we are off the grid, that law did not apply to us.”

She was referring to the BVI Electricity Corporation Act, which requires residents and businesses to obtain their primary source of electricity from the public grid if possible.

She said going green at other places she has worked has been

harder because the owners haven’t always had the same vision. But Cooper Island is different.

“It is the first time that we have been able to implement all our ideas and hopes, because the owners have the same feelings as us,” Ms. Baker said. “They don’t care if it costs more. If it is doing the right thing, then they would rather do it.”

Although the initial investment can be costly, Ms. Baker said she discovered that most renewable energy systems will save enough money to pay for themselves in about seven years.

“Which is fantastic,” she said.

“But I think we have almost paid it off in three years. … A resort is pulling so much power, you see the payback so quickly.”

On Peter Island, the wind turbines have resulted in the resort using 20 to 30 percent less fossil fuels on average, Mr. Potgieter said.

The facilities have been operational for the past two and half years and Mr. Potgieter says the investment should pay for itself in the next nine years.

Ms. Baker said getting the system to the resort was the biggest obstacle, whether it involved delivering it on a boat or putting it on land without a crane. As far as maintenance, there haven’t been any problems, she added.

On Peter Island, the almost 7,000-pound wind turbine blades

In 2009, the BVI Tourist Board announced plans to participate in Green Globe, a certification programme in which commercial buildings are recognised for eco-friendly design, construction and operation.

The properties are required to: • use less energy; • conserve water resources; • emit fewer pollutants (such as greenhouse gases, airborne pollutants, liquid effluents and solid waste); and • provide a healthier indoor environment for occupants.

The World Travel and Tourism Council established the organisation in 1992, and it now includes more than 300 participants in 50 countries.

The programme challenges tourism businesses to follow 21 principles for sustainable development.

At the time of the launch here, then-BVITB Chairman Myron Walwyn said the territory’s tourism sector should lead the industry toward environmental consciousness.

“In the long run we know that this will pay off in the preservation of our environment, the attraction of more visitors, and for the bottom line of our tourism businesses,” Mr. Walywn said.

Product Development Manager Natasha Chalwell explained at the time that the BVITB worked with properties to implement strategies to help utilise green techniques, which cut down waste, water, chemical and energy consumption.

To implement the programme, the BVITB worked with PA Consulting Group.

So far two VI properties have achieved certification: Agape Cottages and Myett’s, both in Cane Garden Bay. need to be taken down when a hurricane is approaching the territory. Mr. Potgieter says it takes about one day to take down one blade. Recently, when Tropical Storm Isaac threatened the Virgin Islands, he didn’t take any chances and took the down the blades.

VG resort Going green is not new for VI resorts. Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort Managing Director Duncan Hogarth said Laurance Rockefeller had the environment in

Resorts see page 14

Advertisement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 7

Page 8 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Reaching out Initiatives spread green ideas

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com

M

uch of the public dialogue about preserving the environment focuses on largescale policy changes. But there are also many things that individuals can do to go green.

Fairly simple changes in lifestyle frequently described as “low hanging fruits” focus on three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

If everyone did a little, the effect would be noticeable, according to Jacco Bos, managing director of Alternative Energy Systems.

“It can make a difference quickly,” Mr. Bos said.

BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham has started taking small steps at the corporation’s Long Bush office in an effort to conserve electricity. He is normally the last person to leave, and he makes sure all the lights and airconditioning units are shut off.

“Ultimately, when it comes to energy conservation, it requires lifestyle changes that individuals have to make,” Mr. Abraham said. “It isn’t anything the utility can do; it is not anything the government can do. It is initiatives persons are going to have to make themselves with regards to how they utilise energy.”

Recently, many organisations have been working to spread this message. Some of them are listed below.

BVIEC Road Show — In July, BVIEC offi-

seas territory understand the economic value of its natural environment, the threats posed and options available for managing these threats. Ultimately this will help environmental issues be integrated into the strategic decisions, organisers hope. The workshop was held Feb. 22-23 at Treasure Isle Hotel in Road Town.

350 — The 350 day of action is named for 350 parts per million, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere that scientists say would be the safe for the climate. Currently, the measurement is at 387 parts per million and climbing. Eighty-nine countries have committed in principle to setting 350 ppm as a worldwide goal. VI residents recognise the number each year with an activity usually held at Brewers Bay or H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

Sustainability training — The UNESCO-funded programme trains 40 people at a time through webinars. “This is the best that I know of around the world,” Ms. McDevitt said. The workshops focus on sustainability and how it relates to individuals.

The participants are from various government departments.

— The studio in Cane Garden Bay serves as a fundraiser for green initiatives. In the last five years, Green VI Executive Director Charlotte McDevitt estimates that the studio had more than 35,000 visitors and processed more than 10,000 pounds of glass. “It has become the place to go on a field trip,” Ms. McDevitt said.

HLSCC Green Committee — H. Lavity Stoutt Community College started a Green Committee in 2010 to spearhead initiatives to make the college more environmentally conscious. The committee of about 13 members includes faculty, staff and students. The college has started with small initiatives like distributing mugs that can be used instead of plastic or Styrofoam. HLSCC recently purchased a 60inch television that will display messages in the atrium about what individuals can do to make the college a greener institution. “We hope that we can encourage our students to jump on board and become more responsible stewards of our environment and take it back to their homes and respective jobs,” said Yvonne Crabbe, the senior executive assistant to the HLSCC president.

Greening the Economy

Boat show — Since 2009 the Charter Yacht

cials visited Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anegada to promote energy conservation.

The territory-wide initiative helped bring “tips to real life,” Mr. Abraham said. The show resembled a science fair, with demonstrations showing consumers how to conserve energy. Incandescent lights and compact fluorescents were hooked up to a meter to show how much energy each uses.

Green VI’s glass studio

— This workshop was conducted by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute, which is a component of a larger project managed by the United Kingdom’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The objective was to help each over-

Society has worked with Sailors for the Sea to host a “green” boat show each year. Organisers distribute reusable water bottles, separate glass from the waste stream, hold an environmental seminar, and showcase ecofriendly products sold locally.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE I

f you don’t have the money to buy a hybrid car or convert your house to solar power, you can make a difference with small changes.

USE LESS WATER • Shut off the water while you brush your teeth.

• Take showers that are a minute or two shorter.

• Only flush the toilet when you need to.

• Only run full loads of laundry and dishes.

• Buy from sustainable producers.

USE LESS ENERGY • Buy energy efficient appliances. They may be more expensive, but they make up for the increased cost in lower energy bills.

• Unplug chargers when not in use. Cell phone and other chargers use power even if there is nothing attached to them.

• Put devices with remotes, like televisions and stereos, on a power strip and turn it off when not in use. These devices use a lot of power to run the remote receiver even when the device is off.

• Walk or ride a bike for short trips.

• Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products around the world.

REUSE • Take a reusable bag to the supermarket, instead of using plastic bags.

• Use a mug when you buy coffee or tea.

• Reuse glass food containers as cups and everyday dishes.

Print on both sides of a piece of paper.

Source: All Private Label

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 9

Recycling programme in the works

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com In 1999 Abigail O’Neal was working for a dive company.

She sold sodas to guests on the boat, and they would ask where they should put their cans when they finished their drink.

“Throw it in the garbage,” Ms. O’Neal would say.

The guests responded, “You don’t have recycling here?”

About 13 years later, there is still no official recycling programme in the Virgin Islands.

“I don’t want another 10 to 15 years to pass and we haven’t found a solution to that,” Ms. O’Neal said.

Change may be coming soon. In 2007 VI resident Charlotte McDevitt visited a glass studio at Maho Bay in St. John. She thought if Tortola had a similar facility, it could be a “catalyst” for green thinking in the territory.

Since then, Ms. McDevitt has brought her idea to fruition after helping found the non-profit Green VI. The organisation’s glass studio in Cane Garden Bay has created much discussion about recycling in the territory.

Ms. McDevitt, Green VI’s executive director, said the studio frequently plays host to students on field trips to see “waste become a resource.”

However, the studio was never meant to handle waste from all over Tortola. In fact, Green VI discourages residents from bringing their bottles there, because it collects enough at two Cane Garden Bay restaurants — more than 200 pounds of glass a week.

“This is more demonstrational as to how waste can become a resource,” Ms. McDevitt said.

Bigger project Green VI now has its sights set on a bigger project that could change how the VI handles a large percentage of its waste. Ms. McDevitt is working with government to develop a national recycling programme.

Photo: ERIC VOORHIS Recyclers have their eyes on a large mound of glass bottles at Sea Cows Bay collected by BVI Recycling a few years ago. The company’s efforts to recycle the glass abroad were stalled by logistical difficulties. Now, other groups hope to process it here.

A resource management plan in the works considers several waste streams, she said. Ms. McDevitt envisions a waste management system that would include the framework for a recycling system in the VI. To get under way, the recycling programme would require a $175,000 government grant that would be matched by private sponsors, according to Ms. McDevitt. As soon as funding becomes available, recycling of glass and aluminium could start within a year, she said.

Then compost and plastic recycling could get under way within the following two years.

“It would be a phase thing,” Ms. McDevitt said. “It would be step by step.”

Data collected by other organisations from around the region and the United Kingdom will be considered in the programme design, she

said, adding that such support and resources are critical for success.

Collaboration The recycling programme would be a collaboration between government and private enterprises, according to Ms. McDevitt.

Initially, most of the waste would be shipped away to be recycled, with the exception of glass and organics. However, Ms. McDevitt estimates that 30 to 40 percent of the territory’s waste ultimately can be recycled here.

The first step is getting a system and infrastructure in place. Each island would have a glass crusher, a baler and a compost system, she explained.

A materials recovery facilities, or MRF (pronounced “murf ”), also would be needed on each island. At this site, a

baler would be used to compact waste like plastics and aluminium so that it could be shipped to a recycling facility elsewhere.

The glass would be crushed and used as aggregate for construction purposes or otherwise repurposed.

Composting systems would also be onsite to recycle organics. The end result would either be compost or energy produced through the recycling process, Ms. McDevitt said.

“Why are we importing this stuff when we can make it ourselves?” she asked.

The programme would work with other recycling initiatives, like Going Green on Gorda and Floyd Stoutt, whose Sea Cows Bay facility crushes vehicles to be recycled abroad.

Julie Swartz, of GGG, hopes to move some of her op-

erations to Tortola to clear the mountain of glass in Sea Cows Bay that was collected by BVI Recycling a few years ago.

However, she will first need to access funding for a large glass crusher similar to the one she has ordered for VG that can crush four tonnes of glass in an hour, she said.

The Waste Management Department would probably contract a private recycler to run the MRF, while Green VI would be in charge of training recyclers and accessing funding for equipment, Ms. McDevitt said.

The programme could create as many as 15 paying jobs, she added.

Many details still need to be worked out, according to Ms. McDevitt, but she is in the process of raising funds to launch a pilot programme. She hopes a recycling system will be in place by next year.

Page 10 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Sailing industry charters a greener course

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com To fully understand sustainability, try living on a boat for a week.

That is a recommendation that many sailors would endorse after conserving water, fuel and food at sea for days, weeks or even months.

Hundreds of charter boats in the territory serve as temporary homes for thousands of visitors each year. These guests learn quickly the importance of conservation and sustainability while spending their vacation on a boat.

Some in the industry describe sailing as a kind of eco-tourism.

Charter Yacht Society President Janet Oliver said sailboat guests practise conservation and utilise renewable energy systems.

“If you have sails and you can use wind to navigate around the islands … you don’t leave a big carbon footprint,” Ms. Oliver said.

Renewable energy systems on boats are becoming more popular in part because they reduce the amount of fuel that is used by the engine and generator.

About 10 percent of the CYS’s 75 members currently have solar panels, and this number is growing, according to Ms. Oliver.

“It is not essential, but if you are looking at ways of saving money and being more environmentally conscious you will try to make those changes,” Ms. Oliver said.

Installing alternative energy systems is a “big job” and an investment, “but members are doing it because it is cost effective over a number of years,” Ms. Oliver said.

Having alternative energy systems in place on a boat is also a selling point. Visitors look to see what businesses are doing here to

Photo: TODD VANSICKLE Many sailors are implementing alternative energy systems like solar panels on their boat to help save money and become more self-sufficient. protect the environment, the CYS president said.

“That appeals to them, because that is a way of life for most of them,” Ms. Oliver said.

Five years ago, it was common for charter boat guests to bring several cases of water on a weeklong vacation. But through education and technology, Ms. Oliver said, more guests and brokers are now using reusable bottles, water makers and large five-gallon containers instead.

She estimates that about 80 percent of the CYS boat owners have water makers that remove

salt from seawater.

“There has been a huge change in the way that we deal with water,” Ms. Oliver said.

Regattas have also taken green iniatives. The BVI Spring Regatta received gold level certification from the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas programme during last year’s event. The Moorings has pledged that its upcoming Interline Regatta will comply with environmental standards set by the international nonprofit organisation in hopes to receive the bronze level certification.

But not everyone is happy with how charter boat guests interact

with the environment.

In July, Natural Resources and Labour Minister Dr. Kedrick Pickering spoke out about yachts discharging sewage in bays and harbours close to land. He suggested that the territory have pumping stations.

However, Ms. Oliver believes there are better solutions than pumping stations. She is concerned that there would be a need for several pumping stations throughout the territory, and this raises environmental issues about how the sewage would be handled and where the stations would be located along the water’s edge, she explained.

“The yachting industry really needs to work hand in hand with all the environmental agencies to come up with a solution,” Ms. Oliver said.

Currently a Marine Association policy requires boaters to use holding tanks and discharge sewage at least 1,000 yards from shore. On average, a charter boat empties its holding tank about three times during a weeklong trip.

“There are very few boats that don’t have holding tanks,” Ms. Oliver said.

Charlotte McDevitt, executive director of Green VI, said having systems on boats to help break down waste would be a better solution than having pump-out stations. “[Boats] shouldn’t be dependent on an external or extensive system to manage waste,” Ms. McDevitt said. “I think boats should be fitted with toilets that can manage their own waste.”

Although boat sewage can be hazardous to the environment, the majority of the sewage problems come from land, Ms. McDevitt said.

“If you are going to be spending the money, sort out the problems on land first,” she said.

ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRODUCTS All-purpose cleaner — Straight vinegar, vinegar and salt, or a paste of baking soda and water are all effective grease cutters.

Aluminium cleaner — After removing as much substance as possible, fill a pan with one quart of water and two tablespoons cream of tartar.

Bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes. Rinse well.

Window/glass cleaner — Fill a spray bottle with equal amounts of vinegar and water. Apply with a soft cloth and dry with a squeegee.

Furniture polish — Use olive oil on all wood surfaces. Apply with a soft cloth, rub in, let stand for several hours, and then polish with a soft, dry cloth to remove any residue.

Decorative metal cleaner (for brass, copper or pewter) — Combine 1/2 cup of salt with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply and let sit 15 minutes to one hour. Rinse thoroughly to prevent corrosion. Salt and vinegar should not be used on metals that have a lacquer coating.

Copper cleaner — Make a paste of lemon juice, salt and flour.

Fibreglass stain remover — Use a paste of baking soda.

Mildew remover — Combine salt with lemon juice or vinegar to make a paste.

Source: sailorsforthesea.org

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 11

Alternative energy job sector expected to grow

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com You won’t find many job opportunities for solar panel installers or wind turbine technicians in this newspaper’s help wanted section.

However, Yvonne Crabbe, senior executive assistant to the president at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, believes this may change in the next 10 years.

Recently, the college started a Renewable Energy Club, which works closely with the Tortola company Alternative Energy Systems and includes about 18 members.

“We are working with educating students about solar energy,” Ms. Crabbe said.

The college is piloting a onecredit course this semester, according to Ms. Crabbe. The focus will be on awareness, but students will also attend guest lectures and discussions on renewable energy jobs, careers and business opportunities.

The 15-hour course will also include field trips to businesses that are implementing renewable energy, like Cooper Island Beach Club and Peter Island Resort.

The course will also offer online certification for renewable energy providers and maintenance workers, according to Ms. Crabbe.

“We feel that the college has a responsibility to create a qualified, trained workforce to service solar equipment or to install them,” Ms. Crabbe said. “If this is the way the country is going, then we need to have a workforce to be able to service that field. Otherwise we are going to need to import it.”

Growing interest The interest in renewable energy training is growing among technical and trade students, according to Ms. Crabbe. Science students are also getting involved, along with their counterparts in business and humanities.

But it is still “very early in the game,” said Ms. Crabbe.

“Our goal is to raise awareness and see who is interested,” she added. “And to see how we can service the needs in the society.”

For example, the college is working with LIME to offer a course in solar energy to help train employees at the company, which

GREEN JOBS Solar panel installer — $29,680 to $45,050 Wind technician — $24,000 to $78,000 Recycler — $18,000 to $56,000 *Salaries, which are based on United States figures, can fluctuate depending on location and job title within the field of work.

Source: Payscale.com

has plans to use solar panels as a backup source.

Ms. Crabbe does not doubt that more renewable energy courses will be offered in the future.

“We can’t just sit back and wait,” Ms. Crabbe said. “If there is a need, then we have to take the initiative.”

The college needs to stay on top of changes in technology and legislation, she added. Surveys are one way that the college plans to keep up to date with these changes.

Businesses Harneys lawyers recently drafted a regulation that would allow businesses and residents to install renewable energy systems as their primary source of power.

“I think it could create jobs,” Susanna Henighan Potter, head of marketing at Harneys, said “It’s not going to take over the financial services or tourism, but it could be a sector.”

She believes implementing legislation that allows renewable energy systems on a large scale in the territory could speed progress in this direction.

“You have to have some sort of degree of certainty that this is an industry that government supports,” Ms. Henighan Potter said.

Jacco Bos, managing director of AES, said his business of eight employees currently relies on international training and expertise.

The company is working with HLSCC, however, and sees the college’s solar panel project as a learning tool for electrical stu-

dents. Although solar energy training is in its infancy here, and no wind energy training is offered, Mr. Boss is optimistic about AES’s partnership with the college.

“We are hoping to see a couple of students coming out of that who can help us,” he said.

Photos: PROVIDED Members of the H. Lavity Stouut Community College’s Renewable Energy Club tour Peter Island Resort’s wind turbines.

Page 12 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

BVIEC wants duty-free solar water heaters

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com If you are looking for cheap hot water, then the United States Virgin Islands is the place to find it.

That’s because the “Hill Bill” was passed in July 2009, requiring all building plans submitted to the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources to include solar water heating designs.

Additionally, under the law 70 percent of hot water in all new and substantially modified construction must come from “energy efficient solar systems.”

The BVI Electricity Corporation also wants residents of this territory to install solar water heaters.

The BVIEC hopes an “infomercial” it is producing will encourage more people to use the devices.

“Why pay to heat your water, when it can be done for free?” said BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham, who owns a solar water heater himself.

The heaters have been around for at least 20 years in the VI, but

due in part to their cost they were never a first choice for residents, the BVIEC general manager said.

Today, even though the price of the devices has dropped, persuading VI businesses and residents to invest in them can still be difficult. Unlike in the USVI, there are no tax incentives or rebates to install the systems.

“With the absence of initiatives it makes it very difficult to get the widespread penetration that we would like to see with solar water heaters,” Mr. Abraham said.

The BVIEC general manager said making the heaters duty-free would encourage more people to invest in the systems.

He also suggested banning tankless water heaters, because of the “significant” amount of energy they consume.

“With fuel cost being so high and since our electricity is produced from fossil fuel, now is the best time to start reintroducing the benefits of solar water heaters for the territory,” Mr. Abraham said.

Photo: TODD VANSICKLE

A home in North Sound near Virgin Gorda utilises solar water heaters. The BVI Electricity Corporation is currently encouraging more residents to intall the systems.

Fight launched against plastic bags,Styrofoam

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Some environmentally conscious residents want plastic bags and Styrofoam banned from the territory.

And it could happen.

“It is not only damaging to our health, but it is also one of the biggest litter items in the BVI — it is an eyesore,” said Charlotte McDevitt, executive director of Green VI . “The marine life is full of it. They ingest the stuff and it kills them.”

Restricting Styrofoam and certain plastic materials is not uncommon in the Caribbean. Some countries have already taken steps to ban imports that are packaged with Styrofoam and other nonbiodegradable materials.

Guyana President Donald Ramotar said the country is preparing legislation that would restrict the use of certain plastics and aluminium containers, increase littering fines and encour-

Activists say that plastic bags and Styrofoam are unnecessary and damaging to the environment.

age recycling.

Here, Green VI has linked up with World House Caribbean and the Conservation and Fisheries Department in an effort to discourage the use of plastic bags.

Ms. McDevitt said getting supermarkets to meet on the matter was a big first step. But she wants to see legislation in place that would ban plastic bags altogether.

“We wanted to be the first the country to voluntarily ban it,” Ms. McDevitt said. “It is possible because of our size.”

In June, more than 3,500 reusable grocery bags were distributed to customers at VI supermarkets. The “Green Bag Day” was an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic bags. Although some stores want to continue with the initiative, plastic bags are still distributed at most stores.

“In principal all the stores agree,” Ms. McDevitt said.

However, to encourage more people to start carrying their own bags, Ms. McDevitt suggests that supermarkets start charging for plastic bags.

Another way to rid the territory of plastics and Styrofoam is to provide eco-friendly alternatives.

Abigail O’Neal’s business, GreenTech, sells biodegradable corn-based products.

“It has always been a pet peeve of mine when I go overseas and I come back and see more Styrofoam here,” Ms. O’Neal said.

But getting businesses to make the change can be challenging. In most cases, ecofriendly products cost more than plastic bags or Styrofoam containers.

In the meantime, Ms. McDevitt said, all residents can play a part by making small lifestyle adjustments.

“Plastic and Styrofoam are nightmares, and it is all due to our poor habits,” she said.

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 13

Eco-businesses face challenges making green containers is not going to make you rich,” Ms. O’Neal said. “We want to make money, but it is about a movement to show there are products available that work and are environmentally safe.”

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com The Virgin Islands is getting a littler greener with the help of businesses that specialise in eco-friendly products and services.

In the last decade several green businesses have launched in the territory, but the impact has been modest due to customers’ habits, budgets and, in some cases, outdated legislation.

In 2009 Abigail O’Neal started selling biodegradable and compostable products, such as cups and utensils. Her business, GreenTech, has grown, but she said there are many challenges.

Although she is employed fulltime at the BVI Tourist Board, she takes “vacations” to work on GreenTech projects, she said. A big part of the job, she added, is changing attitudes.

To convince business owners to go green, Ms. O’Neal shows sample kits and other demonstration pieces to clients including restaurants and supermarkets. But it isn’t always an easy sell. She said her product prices are competitive, but non-environmentally friendly products are cheaper.

Furniture

Photo: TODD VANSICKLE Annie MacPhail of Nutmeg Designs shows one of the bags she makes from used sails.

“It is the bottom dollar that matters, especially these days,” Ms. O’Neal said. “You can’t pressure

people, because they have to look at what is working for them for their business to survive. Sometimes you

are trying to convince someone to spend an extra two dollars.”

Solar, wind energy Alternative Energy Systems at Port Purcell, with its eight employees, has been selling solar and wind energy systems for almost a decade.

In 2004 the demand for solar energy systems was strong because the price of oil had gone up and the recession had yet to set in, according to Jacco Bos, AES managing director. At that time, the company saw a lot of growth.

But when the recession hit, residents became more careful with their money.

Oil prices aren’t the only factor that has affected the business.

Current legislation has also played a part in steering away potential customers, according to Mr. Bos. Business owners and residents do not want to invest in green technology that is not supported by law, he explained. However, Mr. Bos said, attitudes and policies appear to be changing.

As going green becomes more popular, more businesses are expected to crop up. But this doesn’t worry Ms. O’Neal, who believes there are plenty of opportunities in the field.

“Selling cups, forks, knives and

Annie MacPhail’s business Nutmeg Designs specialises in furniture made from “reclaimed or recycled” wood or metal, she said.

Convincing consumers to buy recycled products in today’s economy can be challenging, according to Ms. MacPhail.

“When you are recycling there is such a longer process it tends to be more expensive,” she said. “Hopefully that will change over time.”

However, she is starting to see an uptick in business, with June one of her busier months, she added.

In one corner of her Wickhams Cay II shop sits a blue coffee table made from a Ford pickup truck hood; in another corner is a sewing machine that she uses to make canvas bags from old sails.

“They would basically be cutting up the sails and putting them in the dumpster and going to the incinerator,” Ms. MacPhail said. “It has been like that since the dawn of chartering. … Here I am sitting on this goldmine of free fabric.”

Although many of her products are imported, she is starting to utilise materials from the Virgin Islands and repurpose them at her shop. This helps keep her costs down, which allows her to charge a lower price and put money back into the business, she said.

Ms. MacPhail has also spoken to welders and other artists she hopes could help transform trash into merchandise.

Meanwhile, her business has become a drop-off location for recyclables. Large plastic bags from TortolaExpress are delivered to her store along with egg cartons that are then reused to package eggs at the prison farm.

Though she is trying to use more items from the territory, she still relies on imported goods.

Thus, she said, she would like to see customs duty lowered for ecofriendly items.

“I am just trying to grow this business, and I think it is very timely now with this new government and things are changing here a little bit,” Ms. MacPhail said. “I can see things are starting to pick up steam.”

Page 14 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

Monitoring your energy consumption

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com In fast food restaurants in the United States, there is a good chance that most customers know how many calories their meal contains. That’s because the number is labeled on the menu.

Homeowners can track the energy they consume in a similar manner using an e-monitor, a device that attaches to each circuit in a breaker panel and graphs energy usage.

Jacco Bos, the managing director of Alternative Energy Systems on Tortola, said awareness is the first step in energy conservation.

“It gives you a better idea how you use electricity,” Mr. Bos said.

It also gives consumers a way to adjust their energy consumption by taking small steps like shutting off lights, switching to LEDs or installing insulation, Mr. Bos said.

“Everyone complains about electricity prices, but not everyone is aware what they can do about it,” Mr. Bos said. “Conservation is usually a pretty small investment, but the payback is very easy to illustrate.”

An e-monitor is a small investment compared to a renewable energy system, which could cost thousands of dollars.

“One of the areas that we anticipate strong growth in the future is people interested in how they use electricity so they can conserve electricity,” Mr. Bos said.

“That is your best investment — the ability to be able to conserve.”

OUT ON THE STREET How do you conserve electricity or water?

When I am not home I pull out all the plugs for the appliances except the refrigerator. And I keep Suzette Smart the lights off unless I am going to use the kitchen or bathroom.

We changed out the light bulbs in our house to compact fluorescent. We have a cistern, so no Jason Jagessar street water. So we are very careful as to how we use water. I planted some trees the other day and I am trying to get my kids to recycle. The next project is to start a compost pile.

I turn off the water when I am brushing my teeth.

Residents and businesses can track their energy usage through devices like the e-monitor, (above) which analyses energy consumption.

Resorts from page 6 mind when he built the Virgin Gorda resort in the 1960s.

The resort’s buildings, for example, were designed to blend in with their surroundings.

“From the bay you can hardly see it,” Mr. Hogarth said. “As far as our efforts here, we have to embrace what we have in the bay here, which is the reef.”

The resort is working with a dive company to explore ways to monitor and help restore the reef by adding material that coral can grow on, he added.

Guana Island Resort also sees the importance of protecting its surrounding reefs. In recent years, a diverse team of sci-

entists, students and VI residents has transplanted fragments of elkhorn coral that broke off naturally from healthy coralheads in the island’s White Bay. Guana’s Marine Research Programme, in partnership with the Association of Reef Keepers and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, monitors the reefs each year.

On land Guana also runs a restoration programme that has reintroduced “extirpated species back to” the island, including the stout rock iguana and other “harmless plant and animal species,” according to the resort’s website.

Counting the cost At Little Dix, Mr. Hogarth said alternative energy systems are also something of interest that would help offset high utility bills. The resort’s management has researched solar water heaters and solar elec-

tricity, but one of the concerns is the cost.

“It is something that requires considerable capital,” Mr. Hogarth said. “It is a matter of being confident in that investment, so that we know it is going to be the right time for it.”

Unlike remoter resorts that do not have access to the grid, Little Dix Bay is required by law to use the energy produced by the BVIEC. But the resort has found other ways to save energy. Recently, it has been switching to energy-efficient bulbs.

“It has had a significant impact on the consumption rate,” Mr. Hogarth said of the programme.

The general manager also said he has scheduled an energy audit with a Puerto Rico company.

“I think there are opportunities there,

Kaydian Willis

but I want to make sure an expert evaluates it for us and provides the recommendations,” Mr. Hogarth said. “I would like to expect that we will have a plan of action as we move into next year to improve on some of those efficiencies.”

The resort did not need any recommendations to eliminate the use of polystyrene. Instead, plastic dishwasher-safe cups and containers are used when guests want to eat by the pool or on the beach.

“At the end of the day, we are all about keeping the environment clean,” Mr. Hogarth said. “I believe we are heading in this direction, but it is a challenge to deal with the infrastructure and legislation that is in place. But we still have to explore and find ways to [conserve energy].”

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 15

Farming for tomorrow

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Trying to find produce in the supermarket that was grown in the Virgin Islands can be a challenging task.

The majority of the food in local supermarkets has been imported, a process that requires more fuel and energy to ship it and get it on store’s shelves.

Fuel costs are not the only concern when it comes to importing food. There are also health and environmental risks that are associated with pesticides and fertilisers.

Aragorn Dick-Read, his wife Federica and their two sons Zanti and Ceiba run the Good Moon Farm that overlooks Tortola’s north shore. The farm specialises in “soft crops,” including vegetables, herbs and fruits like “rare” red bananas, according to his website.

“We produce primarily for the marine industry, from the super yacht sector to the bare boats,” Mr. Dick-Read said.

His produce, along with produce he collects from other farmers, is also sold to various restaurants, resorts and private customers throughout the VI. By eating foods that are produced locally, Mr. Dick-Read

Photo: TODD VANSICKLE At supermarkets, finding locally grown produce— like pumpkin and okra — can sometimes be a challenge. said, there is “a minimum carbon footprint.”

He added that there are several other organic farmers on Tortola, but they are difficult to count.

“Some are more hobby than commercial,” Mr. Dick-Read said.

“Of the most serious farmers on island, the top eight out of 10 are organic.”

His farm consists of raised beds on stone terraces to reduce erosion, which also keeps nutri-

ents intact.

Mr. Dick-Read doesn’t use chemicals to control pests or fertilise the crops.

“We work according to permaculture principles, whereby we reuse the waste of other life forms and compost to fertilise our production and we catch our own water and gravity feed it to the plants,” he said.

He deals with insects by planting “the right crops at the right

time” so they are out of sync with bug infestations. He also arranges his crops so that they will help defend each other from certain pests.

In June, ABC News published an article about pesticides found on fruits and vegetables in US supermarkets. Apples topped the list, with 98 percent testing positive for a pesticide and 92 percent testing positive for two or more pesticides.

Coming in second was celery, with more than 95 percent testing positive for at least one pesticide.

Several other residents and resorts have started to put their green thumb to use by starting a garden.

Despite a lack of water on Cooper Island, the resort there has been experimenting with different crops to supplement its menu.

Currently, bananas, plantains, squash and papayas are grown.

The resort is also looking at a hydroponics system to start growing food like arugula and lettuce.

The garden is still in the early stages and is not enough to supply the kitchen yet. “But it does help supplement the stuff we buy locally,” said Samantha Baker, the resort’s general manager.

In the next 10 years, she hopes the resort will produce 30 percent of its food needs.

In the future, Mr. Dick-Read said attitudes towards agriculture will have to change if the territory seeks some level of sustainability.

The farming industry has struggled since the 1960s due to political and social-cultural issues, he said.

“The leaders in their quest to develop and modernise have intentionally turned the population away from our once vital and sustainable link with the land,” Mr. Dick-Read said. “Farming has wrongfully been associated with slavery, poverty, hard work and so on in an effort to disengage the population from the land and engage them in the service economy, while freeing up the land for real estate and collateral for bank loans.”

In part because of this mentality, he said, the VI has a limited understanding of the environment and how to use it as a sustainable source of income and daily sustenance.

He added that he doesn’t believe commercial techniques like greenhouses are suited for the VI.

TIPS FOR ORGANIC GARDENS Choose appropriate plants — Not all plants are appropriate for the Virgin Islands. By selecting appropriate plants for your area, you can avoid using fertilisers and save on water. Research what plants are native to your surroundings and try planting them in your own garden.

Pick pest-repellant plants — Many plants produce chemicals that repel pests naturally. By planting them in or around your garden, you can keep your plants safe with little effort and no chemicals.

Plants including hot peppers, vanilla and lavender can help repel insects from a garden.

Crop rotation — Farmers all over the world use crop rotation to naturally fertilise plants. To do this, they regularly change what crops they plant in a certain field. Plants use different nutrients and put other nutrients back into the soil. If you rotate crops that replace the nutrients other plants use, you will have to fertilise the soil less.

Source: All Private Label

Instead, a new approach to agriculture should be taken, he said.

“It is healthier, cheaper and better for the planet to produce your own food than to ship produce of unknown origin from thousands of miles away,” Mr Dick-Read said.

Page 16 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

A greener place to live glass aggregate. He is keeping his eyes on several recycling businesses, including Going Green on Gorda, which plans to produce glass aggregate in the future.

“Pretty much everything has to be imported,” Mr. Downing said. “I would love to start getting stuff here and have our own industry.”

Using local trades could also help in the effort. He said fibreglass boat builders could create forms for “anything.”

“The boat industry could definitely team up with the building industry,” he said.

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Building an eco-friendly home takes careful planning and a larger budget, and it’s not necessarily easy, according to architect Thor Downing.

“Living in a green house is like eating healthy,” Mr. Downing said.

“You have to make some sacrifices.”

Building green starts at the ground level in the Virgin Islands, the architect explained. He suggests that developers and homeowners look at the topography of the building site, along with wind angles, which can help keep energy costs down by keeping a home cooler.

“You will spend more on your design, but you will start saving more on your running costs,” Mr. Downing said.

Too often in the VI, builders cut deep into the hillsides when preparing a homesite, he said.

This process not only creates runoff into the ocean, which damages coral reefs, but it requires extra fuel and energy.

To prevent such issues, Mr. Downing said, he would like to see more guidelines regulating topography and slope at homesites.

In order to minimise environmental impact, the architect first visits the property and marks various trees that should not be removed.

“Use all the natural elements and that will help you,” he said. “You get instant shade from the trees.”

He then generates computer models to give clients a better idea of what and where they are building.

LEED programme OBM Managing Director Steve Fox said his architecture firm launched LEED five years ago to encourage eco-friendly building in the territory.

He describes the programme as a comprehensive but userfriendly framework for certifying buildings.

Under LEED, developers receive points for sustainability in five areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Although the programme has taken off in the United States and Europe, it hasn’t had much success here, according to Mr. Fox, who is

Photo: TODD VANSICKLE Architect Thor Downing looks over some materials that he uses when designing a home. one of four LEED accredited architects at OBM. So far there hasn’t been one LEED certified project in the VI, he said.

Mr. Fox points to the economy as a contributing factor.

“Initially it costs more, depending on the level that you are aiming at, but you will definitely have a pay back,” Mr. Fox said. “You will save money in the long term.”

There are also logistical issues that have hindered LEED in the territory. For example, the absence of a recycling programme in the VI means that sustainability points can be deducted from a project.

However, Mr. Fox believes there are ways to work around such issues.

Besides, he said, LEED is not needed to build an eco-friendly home. “It comes down to common sense and consideration for a good design,” he added.

The architect said a building’s carbon footprint can be reduced starting with water, energy reduction, and durability.

“Water is a huge issue,” Mr. Fox said. “And here we have cisterns built into virtually every building — that is fantastic.”

Mr. Fox would also like to see better enforcement of existing planning laws and building regulations. He believes this would improve erosion and drainage issues that are caused by some developments.

Building materials are another measure of eco-friendliness.

There are certain timber prod-

ucts, like bamboo, that are considered a greener option.

“Hardwoods are preferable to build with, but you don’t want to be hitting up the Amazon for that,” Mr. Downing said. “Usually, we ask where it is coming from.”

The Road Town architect would like to start using more local materials, like repurposed

Energy systems Renewable energy systems are another way to go green. Installing them, however, requires collaboration between service providers and builders. Even if a homeowner is not ready to install such a system, space can be reserved for conduit and solar panels.

Mr. Downing often meets with Alternative Energy Systems in the planning stages to determine the best options and parameters for installing solar panels or

other renewable energy equipment that is requested.

Building green also costs more. An additional $10,000 to $50,000 is usually required when implementing a renewable energy system, Mr. Downing said.

In most cases, homeowners choose solar energy systems over wind turbines, which tend to make noise, he said.

But Mr. Downing said the wind is a better option for resorts or large developments because they often have enough land to place the noisier systems in a more remote location.

Some green features start at the end of construction with finishing touches, including furniture made from recycled materials.

LED lights and low-flow toilets are other features Mr. Downing installs regularly.

Building green is also about having a client with the right attitude, Mr. Downing said.

“You have to live a little differently, like on a boat,” he said.

“Most clients want to be environmentally friendly as possible.”

Visit us for your School Supplies GO GREEN!

Reuse wrapping paper to cover and protect books

8 Road Reef Plaza, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Tel: (284) 494-3921 • Fax: (284) 494-5079

Going Green Supplement

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 17

Hybrid and electric vehicles coming to the VI

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular around the world, but they have been slow to catch on in the Virgin Islands.

Perhaps many drivers think like BVI Electricity Corporation General Manager Leroy Abraham, who has two concerns about the vehicles: He is skeptical of their ability to handle the steep terrain here, and he worries about their drain on the electricity grid.

“I think if you could get 15 miles on flat land, then by the time you got up Joes Hill you are going to need to recharge,” Mr. Abraham said. “That has always been my concern.”

In the past, he researched the possibility of buying an electric vehicle for the BVIEC, but said it could only be used as a messenger vehicle in Road Town.

“Everybody thinks hybrids can’t take the hills, but what they don’t understand is that a hybrid is two different things — a combustible engine and batteries .”

ABIGAIL O’NEAL

The power cost associated with recharging batteries is also a concern for the BVIEC general manager.

“The more electric cars you put out there, you are going to increase your energy usage,” Mr. Abraham said. “It is a paradox at the end of the day.”

Nonetheless, the vehicles ap-

Photo: CARIBEAN JOURNAL Grand Cayman recently held an electric car show in hopes of convincing more motorists to invest in the vehicles. Motorists here are still debating the best transportation option for this territory. his Road Town car business different things — a compear to be gaining popularity in does not sell them, and he bustible engine and batteries.” the region. This month in hasn’t had any requests from She said the hybrid cost “a Grand Cayman the first-ever customers, he said.

Caribbean International Electric little bit more” than a conven“They will be the future tional gas-powered vehicle, but Auto Show was held. once the infrastructure is in The event featured six differ- she is counting on it to use less place and the US starts to [profuel and reduce costs. ent electric vehicles, each of duce] them in larger volumes,” “The batteries will charge which has a range of about 100 when you are braking and driving Mr. Sorrentino said. miles and can reach speeds of H. Lavity Stoutt Commuabout 65 miles per hour. The ve- at slower speeds,” Ms. O’Neal nity College officials have consaid. “Our speed limits are slower hicles, which cost about sidered purchasing alternative in the BVI, so I am thinking this $32,000, take some eight hours energy vehicles, but opted for should work just fine.” to recharge. high-mileage gas vehicles inInitially, she had thought The island has plans to instead, because of the cost associabout purchasing an all-electric stall 15 charging stations. ated with hybrids and electrics, The vehicles are ideal for the vehicle, but she reconsidered when she realised how much her according to Yvonne Crabbe, flat topography of Grand Caysenior executive assistant to the utility bill would be. man, but some VI drivers say “I would have to build a solar HLSCC president. they can handle this territory’s Thor Downing wishes he recharging station just for that terrain as well. and his brother had purchased a car,” Ms. O’Neal said.

Abigail O’Neal said she hybrid vehicle for their architecis buying a hybrid truck for ‘The future’ ture firm. Originally, they conher Road Town company Neville Sorrentino of InterGreenTech. national Motors said specialised sidered doing exactly that, but they changed their minds.

“Everybody thinks hybrids technicians will be needed as “We are paying $310 a month can’t take the hills,” Ms. O’Neal hybrid vehicles become more for gas,” Mr. Downing said. “It is said. “But what they don’t unprevalent in the VI. Currently, ridiculous. Stupid hills.” derstand is that a hybrid is two

Chair

from page 4

Government House from 6-9 p.m. During that time they will be judged and attendees can bid on them. Last year the event was held in the parking lot at Nutmeg Designs.

“I think it will be bigger and there will be more exposure,” Ms. MacPhail said.

The top three winners will be awarded prizes from the Green VI studio.

Last year the event raised about $3,000 for the nonprofit organisation. This year there will be a small admission fee to help raise more money, Ms. MacPhail said.

There were 20 entries last year and every piece sold, according to the organiser.

“There was some really neat pieces last year,” Ms. MacPhail said. “It is so fun to see what people think of.”

For more information contact Ms. MacPhail at 494-9151.

Page 18 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Going Green Supplement

‘Peak oil’ concept explained by former oil exec

he Ireland-based activist Dr. Colin Campbell, 81, has had a career in the oil business, working as a field geologist and an oil executive in Trinidad, Colombia, Australia, New Guinea, the United States, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway. When he became alarmed by the rate at which oil was being depleted, he founded the Association for the Study of Peak Oil, which has affiliates in more than 30 countries. He has written seven books on the topic, including An Atlas of Oil and Gas Depletion, which explains the situation by country.

T

What is peak oil?

Peak oil describes the concept that the production of oil starts, rises to a peak and then declines to exhaustion, because it is a finite resource formed in the geological past. A debate rages as to the precise date of peak production, which is close if it has not already passed, but misses the point when what matters is the vision of the long decline on the other side of it.

Why should a territory like the Virgin Islands, which depends almost 100 percent on oil to produce its electricity, be concerned about peak oil?

World oil prices have already soared as shortages appear. It means that importing oil to BVI will remain expensive and may be become increasingly difficult, although on a world scale its consumption is small.

How can the Virgin Islands avoid the negative effects of peak oil?

The BVI should turn to wind, wave and solar power, which could meet its modest needs. The government should take on responsibility, and might make a special deal with, say, Venezuela, for supply to ease the transition. Probably BVI relies heavily on tourism, which will diminish in years ahead in the face of global economic recession, so it should

Dr. Colin Campbell

aim to become self-reliant for food and restrict immigration.

When would the average person start to see the effects of peak oil?

No doubt electricity costs have already risen, affecting the average person.

How long has peak oil been an issue?

The peak of oil production in the USA was passed in 1970, but the country was able to afford imports. Every oil country faces its own situation, and some 50 countries are now producing less than at some point in the past. As the easy onshore possibilities were exhausted, the industry moved offshore, mainly in the 1960s, later into deepwater and polar regions and also had to tap non-conventional sources from tar sands and so on.

On a global scale, what is being done?

Very little is being done on a global scale because governments and international organisations are only now coming to terms with the reality of peak oil. The economic consequences are severe, but they are still working on outdated economic principles, printing yet more money out of thin air in the hope of lifting consumerism and restoring prosperity without recognising the fundamental impact of peak

Some geologists have raised concerns about the depletion of the world’s oil supply.

oil, given the modern world’s dependence on oil-based energy. By 2050 world oil supply will be able to support no more than about half the world’s current population in its present style of life.

Who will be affected first?

It is hard to say, but perhaps the USA, whose own oil has been long in decline, and it may face the brunt of the economic and financial consequences given that the dollar rules the world.

What is the best-case scenario when it comes to peak oil?

Governments should alert their people, explaining that peak oil is imposed by nature, and encourage a reversion to local communities who find ways to live on what their particular region can support. BVI as an island is blessed in this regard.

What is the worst-case scenario when it comes to peak oil?

Ignore the issue. The longer the delay, the steeper the subsequent decline.

Does a small territory like the VI have a better chance of avoiding the effects of peak oil than a larger country?

Yes indeed. It can readily

convert to energy from wind, wave and sun, and its demands are small. It is, however, a prominent tax haven and likely to face the impact of the global financial crisis in the short

term before the inhabitants find a new sustainable lifestyle on their beautiful island.

Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Todd VanSickle.

Going Green Supplement

New lights to save money, energy

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com Tortola drivers have probably noticed that a few roads throughout the island look different at night.

That’s because the BVI Electricity Corporation has been making changes to the street lighting for the past six years, according to BVIEC General Manager Leroy Abraham.

T h e smaller sodium lights of 150 to 175 watts have been swapped out with 70-watt bulbs. And now there is an effort to change those lights to lightemitting diodes, which are 43 to 58 watts. All told, more than 30 streetlights have been replaced with lower wattage bulbs, including LEDs. Mr. Abraham said he hopes these changes will lower the cost of street lighting for taxpayers.

“This is to reduce the demand

on the energy grid and the demand on the public purse,” Mr. Abraham said.

An estimated 20 percent of the territor y ’s

electricity load comes from lighting, he added.

Mr. Abraham has been receiving constructive criticism from residents about the conversion. When the BVIEC replaced the 250-watt sodium lights with 130-watt LEDs, some said the new lights were insufficient, he said.

Officials took photometric measurements, he added, and realised there was still “shadowing and zebraing.”

“The customers were right,” Mr. Abraham said. “It wasn’t as bright as they would want.”

Now, the lights have been replaced with 158-watt LEDs,

A solar-powered street light in West End.

which seem to be “on par or achieving the objective,” Mr. Abraham said.

Solar streetlights In July 2010, the first solar powered streetlight was installed in West End. Today there are four solar powered lights from different suppliers, and BVIEC officials are awaiting two others to be installed in Road Town.

Mr. Abraham has already seen the benefits of the solar lights.

“When Tropical Storm Irene came through, the lights were still on,” he said.

The lights have required very little maintenance in the two years since they have been installed, he added.

However, the payback period — the amount of time that is needed to justify the cost of the lights — is about five to six years, he said.

The lights were purchased by government and installed and maintained by the BVIEC. “It demonstrates government’s commitment towards energy conservation and the environment,” Mr. Abraham said.

There are still some changes to which residents are adjusting, like the colour of the lights, which have a blue hue, Mr. Abraham said.

“Once we can overcome those hurdles, it is something we would really like government to forge ahead with,” he said.

BVI Going Green Festival to return

By TODD VANSICKLE tvansickle@bvibeacon.com The BVI Go Green Festival is coming back this year, according to organiser and founder Abigail O’Neal.

She said the festival will have a new format and a focus on the individual consumer.

“I think it is a fun way of bringing awareness,” Ms. O’Neal said. “That is the whole concept of the festival.”

The festival was first held in June 2010 as a three-day event at the Noel Lloyd Positive Ac-

tion Movement Park with public seminars, an expo and concerts by high-profile musicians like Joss Stone.

Last year the event was put on hold.

However, the organiser said, it is “shifting and changing” from what it was. The festival will be a one-day event and will be more focused, according to Ms. O’Neal.

“It is going to have a whole different vibe,” she said. “All the stakeholders will be there.”

The festival will be held at a different time of year and admission will be free. A date has yet to be announced.

The BVI Beacon | Thursday, September 27, 2011 | Page 19

NATURAL BEAUTY TIPS

M

any beauty products contain toxic chemicals that can damage the body or end up in a dumpsite and seep back into the ocean or water table. Often, even products advertised as “natural” are nothing of the kind.

Here are a few recipes that use natural ingredients and are easy on the pocketbook and the environment.

FACE MASK Combining a mashed carrot, mashed avocado, and a beaten egg with a few tablespoons of honey creates a face mask that provides vitamins and improves the tone and texture of skin.

Just stir well, apply, let sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash off with cool water.

After you’ve washed and nourished your skin, you can use grated cucumber or diluted lemon juice as a toner to help tighten your skin and close up your pores to keep your skin looking great.

HAIR CONDITIONER Mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of castor oil and apply to hair. Let sit for about 10 minutes and rinse out. You can use this every so often as a conditioning treatment for healthy shiny hair. If you like being experimental, you can try mixing herbs with eggs for healthy, shiny hair.

HAIR LIGHTENING To lighten hair, dampen with lemon juice and sit out in the sun for an hour.

Lemon mixed with one cup of warm water makes for a great hair conditioner. It should be allowed to stay in your hair for a few minutes before being washed off. Exercise caution if you have a sensitive scalp.

HAND AND FOOT CREAM Use half a cup of olive oil mixed with natural sea salt and massage it into your hands and feet. Leave mixture a few minutes to soak and then rinse off with warm water.

Source: All Private Label

Page 20 | Thursday, September 27, 2012 | The BVI Beacon

Advertisement