Cairo, Egypt 2007: Problems and Solutions

Written on 06/10 at 03:51 AM by Andy Posner 0 comments

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This video was filmed on location in Cairo, Egypt, by Andy Posner and Michele Finnel, while we were visiting T.H. and Sybille Culhane of Solar Cities, a “not-for-profit edutainment organization dedicated to making Utopian ideals and ideas manifest in the near-term.” The film takes a look at some of the environmental and social problems facing Cairo, and then shows how Solar Cities is empowering Cairenes to take the lead in solving those problems. Specifically, they are training local workers to build solar water heaters out of recycled, local materials. The film also pays a visit to Al-Azhar park, a beautiful park located in historic Cairo on what was once a dirty, smelly and dangerous landfill. We show how it is a shining example of what is possible when people are empowered to improve their lives.

The central theme and message of the video is that we should not look at “poor people” as those that are in desperate need of our help because they are weak and ineffectual; indeed, that is an erroneous and, in some ways, dangerous viewpoint. (continue reading)

We must realize that underpriveliged people have to be extremely talented and creative in order to survive, and what they need is neither our pity nor our charity, but rather our access to raw materials and design plans. For example, once Solar Cities showed local welders, plumbers and carpenters the basic idea behind a solar water heater, they took it from there, improving on the design, sourcing better and cheaper materials, and in general taking charge of the project. (This is all seen in the video) Not only does this kind of work allow the local people access to hot water (essential for sanitation), but it also saves them money for heating the water, puts them out of harms way (every year, several people die while heating their water on dangerous hot plates), and gives them a sense of pride about having taking charge of their own lives. Beyond that, if implemented on a large scale, solar water heaters can reduce pollution and strain on the energy grid. They also provide a way for poorer people in Cairo to have water even when the water is turned off (which happens often) because a series of recycled plastic barrels serve as storage tanks for the hot and cold water, and can be used even if there is no municipal water for a given period of time. And lastly, placing this renewable technology on the roof of homes all over Cairo serves to plant the seed of a renewable, clean future, and it is a great way to educate people while at the same time providing a practical solution to an important need: heating water.

Solar Cities has managed to secure a $25,000 loan from USAID to build 1,000 “Solar Roofs” in two of the poorer neighbourhoods of Cairo. From there the hope is that the idea will mushroom into a movement. It is important to keep in mind that in Jerusalem, for instance, over half the homes are heated with the sun, so it is not like this is a fringe, up-and-coming technology. In fact, of all the renewable technologies, this is the only one that you can build with your own two hands. A solar water heater is remarkably simple in theory and rather easy to build: it consists of a series of tubes set under glass, and several tanks to hold the hot and cold water. When the sun beats down on the glass, the water gets hot and begins to rise. As the water rises, cold water enters the bottom of the pipes from the cold water tank, and the hot water enters the hot water tank. When built properly, this system will circulate water without any mechanical energy (this phenomenon is called Thermal Syphoning) It is an elegant, beautiful solution. The water heater can also be made out of PVC pipe, steel pipe, or even plastic bottles. The tanks can be made from recycled plastic, steel, wood, or anything else that is handy and cheap. The video shows that the most expensive part of the system is the plumbing.

For more information about Solar Water Heaters, see the U.S. Department of Energy’s Consumer Guide to Renewable Energy.

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