During the day the solar collector focuses the energy of the sun onto the ammonia generator in the collector trough. Solar heat distills pure ammonia vapor from the water-ammonia solution in the generator. The vapor condenses in the cooling coils and collects as liquid ammonia in the receiving tank in the evaporator.

At the end of the day, the user switches three valves from the Day to Night position to allow the ammonia to evaporate in the ice compartment, providing the refrigeration to freeze the water. The resulting vapor is absorbed back in the generator. Critical to the operation of Isaac is a passive thermosyphon that operates in the Night mode to remove the heat from the generator and allow the ammonia vapor to absorb into the solution at lower pressure and temperature.

Read A solar ammonia absorption icemaker from Homepower Magazine for more info.

Beginning in 1994, a local NGO called Bio-tech pioneered the development of their ‘integrated waste recycling plant,’ where large amounts of organic waste generated by the markets, slaughter houses, and restaurant kitchens are treated and converted into methane (cooking gas) and fertilizer.

Saji Das, the man behind Bio-tech, then chose town of Kadakkal in Kollam district (which fortuitously had the largest dump in the state) as the location for the first integrated recycling plant. Today, the plant is capable of digesting daily one tonne of waste – producing three kilowatts of energy – enough to power 120 street lamps.

Also:LED Replacement For Neon Signs Reduces Energy Use By 80% from The Seitch

Last summer, 200 bicycles landed in Botswana destined for free distribution to home health care workers treating HIV/AIDS patients in remote rural areas. It was a donation from Kona Biketown Africa — a partnership between Bicycling magazine’s Biketown program, Kona Bicycle Company, and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS).

The Malindi Handicraft Association (MHA) is one of Kenya’s largest wood handicraft coops in Kenya. They are currently striving to meet fair trade certifications. Part of that certification involves utilizing sustainable woods such as Neem wood. One of the downsides to utilizing Neem is that if it is not dried properly it can cause the carvings to crack. To combat this problem they are utilizing a solar Kiln. Dark sheets located on the roof of the kiln trap solar energy heating up the inside of the Kiln. The Kiln has been outfitted with electric fans so that during the rainy seasons the carvers can still dry their carvings.