Sustainable Development and Energy Topics in Bucks County + Africa

As our TPA group is still deciding between 2 equally plausible and noteworthy options for the final project I will attempt to cover both possibilities equally. The first option is an to cooperate and expand upon the ‘Green’ specifications of Newtown’s planned LEED Township building that is expected to begin construction later this year. The TPA group would work in cooperation with The Stone House Group of Bensalem to monitor and improve upon the proposed LEED –Silver township expansion. As per the township meetings minutes on March 17, 2008 that the proposed location expansion already should have at least 18 points toward LEED certification. Through further consultation and free work that the township can utilize through the TPA, I believe that it may be possible to achieve LEED-Gold certification through minimal additional cost. Newtown sits roughly 167ft above sea level and is located around 40°13′42″N 74°55′56″W / 40.22833, -74.9322. The area of Newtown receives an average of 3.9in of rain a month so storm water management is important when earning credits under LEED. Additionally it is not uncommon for temperatures to range from around 18 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit making the efficiency of the building crucial for saving money.

The second option for our TPA project is to help design the green specifications for a proposed education center/elementary school in Abia State, Nigeria. While this project is not planning on seeking LEED certification it is hoping to be first green-sustainable school in West Africa. Slightly earlier in the planning stage than the Newtown Township building, the education center is still looking for funding to take its project to the next stage, this is never-the-less an excellent time to get onboard and make a difference. Firmly committed to the principles of sustainability, the projects founders, Emenike Ukazim and Chidi Ukazim who are both originally from the tiny village of Otampa – Isuikwuato in Abia State, are hoping to make their dream of facilitating education to people in their hometown who have no access to education a reality by making their building as efficient as possible. This would serve not just the immediate community but the State as a whole. Over 60% of the State’s 4.22 million people live within thirty miles radius of Otampa, Isuikwuato, and the location of the education center.[1] Since Isuikwuato is located at about 5° latitude and 9° longitude, it receives over twelve hours of sunlight per day. Solar Energy Systems would therefore be the main source of electricity. To overcome the lack of public water system, water wells will be drilled, which could also double as geothermal opportunities. Finally the heavy tropical rain in the region will be harvested by building underground reservoirs.[2] Ultimately the money saving and educational goals of the school are, to create a school for the future that has its primary focus on educating the whole person. Sustainably educating the whole person for the future means solar lighting and cooling, rain-harvesting, a clean water-well system, recycling mentality, entrepreneurial training, health and nutrition training, sanitation and hygiene training, HIV – AIDS awareness training, and farming the land to grow most of the communities food.

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[1] Based on a 2005 census of the area.[2] All of these expenses are accounted for in their construction cost, estimated at over $300,000.