Residents of the Bahamian island of Great Exuma won't forget the day, more than a decade ago, when the light went out. after the four generators that supplied power burned up, frozen food began to melt in tropical temperatures, electric pumps were useless and many were without water for drinking or sanitation. Full power was not restored for several weeks.

That was when Nancy Bottomley, owner/ manager of the Regatta Point guest apartments kin George Town, started thinking about alternative energy sources. Then, a few years ago, when her monthly electric bill have risen to $600, she realized what businesses small and large around the world are beginning to understand: when it comes to the environment, noone really lives on an island.

Bottomly ordered her first solar panel and began letting sun heat most of the water she needed. The installation, at a cost $2,000, paid for itself in two years.

What Bottomly learnt on a microscale in Exuma is true on the global level,too. The world must  anticipate the day that fossil-based energy runs out and reconize the dangers thier indiscriminate use of poses to the environment. Fossil fuels-oil, coal and natural gas-currently meet more than 80 percent of earth's energy needs, according to the U.S Department of Energy. While coal is the most abundant of these resourses-there's enough to last more than two centuries if we consume it at the same rateas toady-natural gas and oil are in shorter supply. at current rates of consumptionbased on known reserves, we'll run out of natural gas in 55 years and oil in 42 years.

On the environmantal front, the byproducts of fossil fuel combustion are responsible for much of our urban air pollution. Certain pollutants in smoke from conventional coal-buring processes can cause acid rain that kills fish and threathens high-altitude coniferous forest. fossil fuels also contribute to the greenhouse effect, forming the equilevant of a glass roof over the earth : the heat produced threatens to raise our planet's temperature enough to eventually melt the polar ice caps and raise sea levels.

In light of these issues, companies worldwide have been grappling with twin imperatives : replacing a dwindling, uncertain energy supply and protecting the earth. many are taking steps ranging from designing energy efficient new offices to developing alternatives energy sources and engaging in simple conversation.

For many companies, solar energy is part of the solution. At the general poultry company, a 4645 sq metre poultry processing plant in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, for instance, 80 solar collectors on the roof heat water from a large storage tank. Workers use the hot water to clean chickens. The solar plant, built as a demonstration project with the suppoort of the US and Eygeptian government, has proven an unmitigated success.

In Japan, where energy consumption is expected to jump 21% between the late 1980s and the year 2000, according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, solar energy has a role to play as well. For example, Sanyo electric company limited, the giant electric and electronic company , has put its alternative energy products to work in its own offices and plants. Power for nighttime outdoor lightings at research centres in Osaka and Tsukuba comes from the company's amorton pole lights, each a stand alone, photovortaic fixture that collects solar energy and stores it in a lead- acid battery to powerp walkways lights at night.

Sanyo sees a hot future for solar and other new energy technologies. "We see global scale problems threatening the very existance of the human race," says Seiji Ohara, managing director of Sanyo. The company's antidote, according to Ohara :"Technology we can live with, and thus freedom from "the highly polluting fossil fuel combustion cycle."

Another engery conscious operationg is the Shell UK Oil refinery at Stanolw England, which was designed to get more high quality fuel out of the crude oil that remains as residue after gasoline, kerosine and gas oil have been extracted. This extra enegery would otherwise go to waste.

Lighting is the focus of energy saving efforts at many large American corprations. In fact, some 50 U.S companies in cluding Xerox, Boeing and digital equipment, have joined a new U.S environmental protection agency (EPA) "greenlights"  close program promote lighting efficency.

Bob Kwartin, director of the program says that the existing roster of greenlights partners already represent more than sixy millionsq metres of lighted facilities. 

Like a growing number of executist worldwide, he thinks energy efficency is also good business. "its called greenlights for 3 reasons, " he says. "green for the environment.green for profit. green for go now."

-Gurney Williams III

Source : Newsweel June 17 1991

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