Sunday, April 25, 2010

Equipment Ordered for June Pilot!

We are doing it...

I am almost afraid to say it out loud, but at the same time I want to shout it from every rooftop! We have raised nearly enough funding to carry out our Pilot Project in June, and are moving forward. We are confident that we can bring in the remaining $5-10K needed in the next few weeks to buy plane tickets and the final odds and ends...or at least to reimburse ourselves for covering it...!

Several blog updates coming soon, with detailed information on our system design, procurement, shipping & importing and next steps. I apologize for neglecting KiraWithoutBorders in recent weeks, the PA solar industry has taken over my life! (which I suppose on one hand is also a good thing...)

But in the interim, please share our excitement in the placement of Purchase Orders! We have ordered:

- 30, 170Watt GE (US-made!) PV modules
- 2, 3kW Outback grid-tied inverters (brand new product!)
- 24 Deka deep-cycle batteries (PA made!)
- All of the neccesary controls, disconnects and accoutrements :)
- 20 x 20 shipping container for the 30-day trek from Newark, DE to Lome, Togo

Racking details, mounting methods, nuts and bolts and round-trip tickets to Lome are next...stay tuned!

It is actually such a relief to know that we will back in Togo soon...
K

Thursday, April 8, 2010

APPEAL FOR LAPTOP DONATIONS GETS BETTER!

It gets better!

If you donate a laptop to SunPower Afrique, not only is it still a tax deduction donation, but Collegeville-based MONTCO-IT is offering to replace your laptop for a significantly reduced cost.

Need a new laptop? Donate your used laptop to those in need and get a brand-spankin new one cheap! Win-win :)




Please contact Kira at kira.costanza@sunpowerafrique.org or 610.489.1105 if you can help!

Akpe ka ka! Merci beaucoup! Thank you very much!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

APPEAL FOR OLD LAPTOPS!

SunPower Afrique is asking for donations of laptops – used or new – to bring to Togo in June. Equipment donations are also tax deductible!

Here is why:

1. One of SunPower Afrique's goals is to impart to Togolese MFIs and small businesses the importance of reducing energy consumption. To encourage this, we have switched many appliances from AC to DC. The biggest part of this is removing FECECAV's ancient, energy hogging desktops and switching them to laptops.











2. Similiarly, the system size is incredibly dependant on load reduction, and we have determined that the most effective way to reduce their consumption is to switch the majority of FECECAV's desktop computers to laptops.

Therefore, SunPower Afrique is asking for donations of laptops – used or new – to bring to Togo for this purpose. If we can collect 20-25 laptops we will achieve this goal. Equipment donations are also tax deductible.

I am willing to pick them up and they can be in good to fair condition, I can do minimal repair work if necessary.

If you do not have any laptops to contribute, please consider making a donation to SunPower Afrique at http://www.sunpowerafrique.org/!

Thank you very much for your time and consideration to – your support will make a HUGE DIFFERENCE!

PLEASE CONTACT kira.costanza@sunpowerafrique.org if you have any laptops you can part with, would like to purchase and donate a laptop, or know anyone that might!

Note: We plan to move the desktops to other locations where they can be of use. If certain computers are deemed unuseable or unneccesary, we will safely and responsibly dispose of them - this too will set an example for local communities! (The irresponsible disposal of computer equipment is an increasing problem on the West African coast...and throughout the world...I hope that humanity will soon find a solution, as our current computers are replaced more and more frequently).