Use and Value Renewable Energy and Resources

Renewable energy and resources are available now and are our future. The technology to use them is becoming better and cheaper all the time. They allow communities to look after their own energy needs and be more resilient and independent. Sometimes simple low technology solutions are still the best. People, structures, water, plants, animals, fire, fuels (such as diesel, kerosene, petrol), machinery, and fertilisers all need energy to be produced and can be used to create more energy. A basic energy-conserving rule in permaculture is that every element (plant, animal, or structure) must be placed so that it provides three or more functions (it is multifunctional). Every function (e.g. water collection, vegetable production) is provided for in two or more ways. All the energy used costs time and money.

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Therefore, it is good to use less energy, and this can be achieved by: • Reusing waste and manure from animals, plants, people, houses, etc. • Reducing energy needs through good design and practice: e.g. cows grow bigger and faster if they have shade and wind protection. The trees that give shade and wind protection also provide cow food! • Using renewable energy sources: e.g. Hydroelectric, biogas, solar, wind • Using technology to reduce energy needs: e.g. you need a lot less firewood if you use a clay oven.• Using good design to reduce energy needs: e.g. a well-designed and built house stays much cooler and requires a lot less energy to make it cool. Less time and money are used and the system supports itself.

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Renewable energy sources are the future, but energy still needs to be used wisely. There are higher costs setting up renewable systems, but the maintenance costs are small compared to buying diesel, oil, and spare parts for generators. Pollution and noise are greatly reduced as well. If trees are used for firewood, plant more trees to replace them. Another example is to use buffalo ploughs instead of tractors. Buffalos need energy that is cheap and local; tractors need energy that is expensive and imported from overseas.

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SOURCE: INFORMATION SOURCED AND REPRODUCED FROM: TROPICAL PERMACULTURE GUIDE BOOK- A GIFT FROM TIMOR LESTE.

It’s a wonderful open-source practical permaculture reference guide book with 2000 beautiful illustrations and comprehensive language which enables even a beginner to understand the permaculture design, food sovereignty, and environmental regeneration strategies and techniques. The vision of this project is to make knowledge comprehensible and accessible for everyone to accelerate sustainable practices in every corner of the world. It is especially useful when working with poor, low literacy, and disadvantaged communities and schools.

This edition was developed from the Permaculture Guidebook from Timor-Leste produced in 2008 and published by Permatil (Permaculture Timor Leste-NGO). It is used by farmers, families, community groups, government departments, schools, universities, agricultural colleges, and NGOs in Timor Leste, and re-used and translated in more than 10 countries.

Please find the link below to download this book and learn more about their work on their website.