Tech Meets Good: Practical Action

By Dan Estabrook - October 6, 2008 Practical Action is working its fingers to the bone to assist the developing world with such needs as power and food production, alleviating poverty, introducing alternative transport and providing disaster mitigation. In ways that it is helping technology and goodness to collide all over the world, Practical Action is supplying help and answers - and winning awards in the process. The Tech Museum in San Jose, California, recently recognized Practical Action's work by awarding its Intel Environmental Award to the organization for it's project to install 47 micro-hydropower stations in Peru, as did the United Nations Environment Programme with its awarding of the 2008 Sasakawa Prize for the same Peruvian project. These Peru micro-hydropower stations now provide power to 6,500 families in the mountains and jungles of the country.

These systems, which are designed to operate for a minimum of 20 years, are usually 'run-of-the-river' systems. This means they do not require a dam or storage facility to be constructed but simply divert water from the stream or river, channel it in to a valley and 'drop' it in to a turbine via a penstock (pipeline). This type of hydro generating thus avoids the damaging environmental and social effects that larger hydroelectric schemes cause. Cost for a typical micro-hydro system varies depending on the project. As a guide every kilowatt of power generated cost around £800. A 6-kilowatt system, enough to drive an electric mill and provide light for a community of about 500, would cost approximately £4,800. Experience shows that community capital (in labour and cash), financial credit and improved income makes these schemes economically viable and sustainable. Besides providing power for domestic lighting and cooking needs, village hydro schemes can also be used for charging batteries or for income generating activities like grain milling, depending on the needs of the community.

Another one of Practical Action's projects is a finalist for the World Habitat Awards.  In Sri Lanka, the organization is providing technology and support to rebuild homes destroyed by the 2004 tsunami.

This Practical Action post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation project has worked with affected communities to reconstruct housing and improve livelihoods, infrastructure, sanitation and health. Over 160 homes have been built in partnership with local NGOs and community groups using cost-effective appropriate technology. Income generation opportunities have been created and training has been provided for over 200 small business entrepreneurs. Appropriate technologies have been introduced, increasing the sustainability of water and energy use and reducing the amount of construction materials required for each house by one third.

The organization works with locally-produced materials (thus fueling the local economy) and provides labor training for local citizens so that they can drive the rebuilding process and build a business of their own as part of their own recovery.  Practical Action's program also includes resources and education on constructing solid waste disposal systems in affected villages, training fishermen more sustainable (and solar-powered) fishing techniques, and supporting other villagers with boat maintenance and repair techniques. The list of projects that Practical Action takes the lead with is never-ending.  Active on just about every continent, the organization is wasting no time driving technology to benefit developing nations and their families. “Technology Meets Good” is a regular Monday feature at Tonic News.  If you have cool examples of technology doing good in our world, please email dan@tonic.com.