15949: Feldman: Reply to 15896 (Wolf) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Janet Feldman <kaippg@earthlink.net>

Dear Casey and All,
Hello and I don't know if this will be helpful, but there is an organization
in Massachusetts called Enersol, which uses solar-power for computers in
rural areas of Haiti without electricity. I am posting the response I
received to a mailing I made to them about computers for both Haiti (where
they have a program) and Kenya (with similar conditions). They are very
helpful and I'm sure would give you some good advice.

I have also been emailing with a couple computer-sales companies in the
Port-au-Prince area, specifically because of the potential problems you cite
(of bringing computers into country, what to bring, et al). They carry
desktops as well as laptops and accessories, I believe. One is InterMedia
Express, and you can contact them at sales-ixp@intermediahaiti.com or
Dominque Debrosse at dominique-debrosse@intermediahaiti.com . The other
company/person is Matthew Smoorenburg at matthews@keijzercomputer.com . I
have further contact info for them and you can reach me at
kaippg@earthlink.net .

Hope this helps, and please contact me if I can do anything else to assist
(I would also like to know the outcome of this project, as I am working on
something similar). Many thanks and all best wishes,

Janet Feldman
kaippg@earthlink.net

Hi Janet,

The laptops we use are regular laptops that have been used in US offices.
The communities we work in do NOT have ANY electricity, so we install a
solar system at the school, one with enough electricity for a few
lightbulbs, and 3-5 hours a day of computer usage (depending on if they want
to use it also at night for adults). The costs of doing this are dependent
on a lot of different parameters. generally we install PV panels that cost
~$1200. We need batteries that store the energy over the weekends, and for
night usage, and they can cost a few hundred dollars. We need inverters and
control boxes that might be about $175. The installation, with labor and
whatever is needed to complete the job, can cost between $1500 - $2000,
depending on who's available to do the work and how far they need to travel,
etc.. Our budgets include money for training (key component in our projects)
and software. Our computers have been donated, and we have volunteers who
get them ready for the schools.

 Maybe you could talk to Allan Baer at Solar Quest (www.solarquest.com) who
has done solar schools in Uganda.

Hope this is at least a little helpful.
Susan

Susan Olshuff
Enersol
Development Manager
enersol@igc.org
www.enersol.org

Dear Janet,

Enersol's Executive Director is currently in the Dominican Republic for the
next few weeks, but I'll answer your question briefly for now. Thanks for
your kind words about Enersol!

We get donated used laptops for our projects. We use laptops because they
are more energy efficient than desktops. We have to do some work on them to
make sure they're reliable, but so far, we have not had to purchase new
computers. We have received donations from individuals, as well as local
businesses who are upgrading their hardware. Hope this is helpful.

Do get in touch about Haiti.
All the best,
Susan

Susan Olshuff
Enersol
Development Manager
enersol@igc.org
www.enersol.org

Dear Enersol Friends,
Hello and a huge congratulations on your invaluable programs! I work with
some educational projects in Haiti (as a volunteer), and will be contacting
you this summer about the possibility of working together in Jacmel and the
mountains surrounding the town, which is where these projects are located.