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Saving energy in a cold climate
Adetoun Mustapha, a business economist based in Nigeria, volunteered to help develop energy efficiency in Kyrgyzstan through Shell Project Better World. She ate naan and plov with the locals – and showed how small steps to save energy can make a big difference.
When you think about volunteering for a project the first thing that probably springs to mind is putting on a set of overalls and getting your hands dirty building or fixing something. But in this case it was my business skills that were put to good use.
I have a strong interest in sustainable development and environmental economics, so when I spotted an advertisement for an energy efficiency consultancy in Kyrgyzstan I jumped at the chance! The former soviet state is trying to meet increased energy demand while securing a better economic future and they see energy efficiency as an important part of this.
Shell Project Better World, a scheme linked with worldwide organisations, encourages staff to use their specialised skills where they’re needed. Assignments vary in length – mine lasted two weeks.
Arriving in mid-December, I got my own taste of the sub-zero temperatures of a Kyrgyz winter! Building energy use accounts for nearly half of the country’s total energy use and around 60% is lost through poor insulation. The non-governmental organisation, Unison – along with donor organisations and Kyrgyz authorities – is running projects that include sealing leaks and holes to keep warmth in.
Unison’s energy efficiency projects range from setting up a working group to find out what is happening in the energy sector to introducing energy certificates for buildings. It wants to promote the efficient use of energy resources to the public. I trained some of the interns on more effective energy efficiency so they can then go on to share this knowledge.
I reviewed the team’s IT and office management, and introduced simple improvements such as sharing resources on the computer network. I assisted with project management and helped put together business cases and funding proposals.
The Unison team had been working together since 2002. One example of their success is a rural energy-efficient medical centre that uses renewable energy. To overcome the problem of frequent power cuts it uses solar panels for electricity and a solar-powered water heating system for clean water and extra heat.
A review we carried out showed that support from the community could help lower costs and keep projects on schedule. As part of an eco-sanitation initiative Unison was providing a sustainable toilet – which catches waste to prevent local pollution – to a local school. At the start of the project the local community agreed to provide low-cost manpower for the construction. But they lost interest over time and some locals working on the site left. Project activities were delayed and Unison had to engage new workers at a higher cost. We found that similar projects with community outreach programmes were completed more quickly and for less.
It is also important to factor in the different ways of working, objectives and perceptions of time that can exist in a community. Above all, if a project is to succeed, everyone needs to work together – oil companies, governments and individuals.
This was my first and I hope not my last experience as a volunteer through Shell Project Better World. The locals were really warm-hearted people. I can’t speak Kyrgyz or Russian and sometimes I had to use gestures and drawings to get by on the streets. I enjoyed the traditional Kyrgyz music and cuisine, particularly plov, a staple food made of rice, chopped meat and shredded carrots. In the office we regularly shared naan – traditional round flat bread baked in a clay oven – and tea.
But the greatest feeling I had after my stint with Shell Project Better World was to know that the people I trained to adopt efficient business practices can go on and train other people, getting the best from future projects.
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